The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“She is asleep, no doubt—and I will not disturb her to-night,” said Mr. Clarendon, who at the instant was divesting himself of his cloak and shawl-kerchief and did not cherefore perceive his daughter's emo- tions. “ I was as much surprised as rejoiced when I saw a light in your bed-chamber—for I thereby felt assured that you had not as yet retired to rest, and that cdnsequently I should not have to awaken you. But I suppose that you have burnt a candle all night in your own room during my absence?” “And yet we are not very timid, you know, dear father,” said Pauline evasively: and again did she blush at the part which she was playing. ‘‘ But you told me that you had welcome news ?”’ she exclaimed, anxious to turn the conversation. “ Yes— Lord Marchmont bas behaved well at last,” replied Mr. Clarendon. “ However, I will tell you everything in the morning—or rather a few hours hence, for ’tis already long past midnight. I am myself wearied—and I will not keep you longer out of your warm bed.” Thus speaking, Mr. Clarendon embraced his daughter—took the candle which she offered him— and proceeded up-stairs to his bed-chamber, which was in readiness for his reception. Pauline obtained another light; and with trem- bling limbs and palpitating heart she returned to her own room, whence she had been absent about a quarter of an hour. But during that interva: a great change had taken place in the sentiments of Lord Florimel. He had relapsed from the chivalrous noble into the selfish voluptuary and his imagination had become inflamed with ardent desires as he dwelt upon the charms of the young maiden—those virgin charms which, in her unsuspecting artlessness, she had revealed to his eyes! He smiled when he recollected that enthu- siastic admiration of her innocence and virtue, into which a sudden ebullition of generous feeling had hurried him, even to the point of offering her his hand; and the more he mentally gloated upon the loveliness of Pauline, the Jess scrupulous did hie be- come in his intentions with regard to her. At length, almost maddened with the fervent thoughts that thus superseded the nobler sentiments which he had for a few moments entertained, he vowed to possess her at all risks, and to sacrifice her honour to his passion in spite of all the obstacles which her virtue might throw in his way ! , Such was the state of his mind, when she reap- :—and, although she was enveloped in that ample cloak which she had thrown on ere she de- scended to open the front door for her father, his imagination nevertheless retained a vivid impression of the white neck, beauteous shoulders, and well- rounded bosom which a short time previously were fully unveiled to the unsuspected licentiousness of his gaze. The maiden placed the candle upon the table— drew the folds of the cloak as completely around her erect form as possible—and seating herself in a chair close to that which Florimel occupied, bent ypon him a look so full of earnest appeal that a remorseful pang once more shot throuzh his heart. “ My lord,” she said, in the lowest tone to which her dulcet voice was capable of falling without be- ooming actually inaudible, “you are beneath the roof of an honest man :—respect his daughter, who feels that she is so entirely dependent upon your 67 Florimel contemplated her lovely countenance with eyes brimful of passion: but he knew not how to reply to the appealing words which she had ad- dressed to him. “Not half-an-hour has elapsed,” continued Pauline, now casting down her looks, while a car- nation glow suffused her cheeks, “since your lord- ship honoured me by a proposal which was well calculated to win my forgiveness for the perfidious conduct which preceded it. Butto that offer your lordship will insist upon no reply at present. Per- haps, indeed, your lordship may wish to have leisure to reconsider it,” she said, her voice becoming tremulous; “and therefvure ” “No, my adored Pauline,” interrupted Florimel who hoped by fostering her belief in bis honoura- ble intentions that he should more easily accom- plish his evi} aims ;—* I canrot desire to have time for reflection on that head. I love yon—I adore ou 7 J “This is language which, under present circum- stances, I dare not listen to,” interrupted the girl, firmlyand proudly. “ Ere now your lordship evinced @ generous spirit: do not—oh! do not destroy the confidence wherewith you thus inspired me! For it was through this confidence, that I yielded to the alternative of deceiving my father instead of look- ing him full in the face and revealing all the inci- dents of the last few hours. And, oh! I blush—]I feel ashamed of the duplicity of which I was guilty, when he asked for Octavia and I suffered him to believe that she was here! Jt was the first time that I ever deceived my father,” she added mourn- fully: “and it shall be the last!” ‘ Remember, Pauline,” observed Florimel, “that _ you have saved your sister from those suspicions which Mr. Clarendon would have inevitably enter- tained concerning her absence.” “But wherefore should he think iJ] of his own obild?” demanded Pauline impatiently, though etill in a low whispering tone—for her sire’s bed-cham- ber joined that wherein this colloquy took place. “Octavia would explain in the morning the cause of that absence ——” “ No, my dearest girl,” interrupted Florimel, sud- denly resolving upon a new and most iniquitous ex- pedient in order to obtain a victory over the maiden’s honour: namely, by exciting her imagina- tion with voluptuous images and conjuring up soft desires in her virgin mind :—“no, dearest giri.. Octavia will not be able to give a satisfactory ac. count of her long absence from home.” “Great heaven! what do you mean, my lord” asked Pauline, for an instant yielding to the terror with which these ominous words inspired her: but almost immediately recovering her self-possession, she said with a tone and manner of mingled indig- nation and pride, “ Your lordship dares not asperse the honour of my sister.” “Ys this a time—is this a place—or are these the circumstances, for us to veil our thoughts, or shut our eyes against palpable truths?” demanded Fio- rimel. “J declare most solemnly, Pauline, that I would not wilfully wound your feelings: but I must speak to you as if I were your friend—or your brother—or your husband. Listen, then—and en- deavour to exercise the strongest control over your emotions.” “ Go on—go on,” murmured the young maiden, houour and your mercy.” frightened by the impreasiveness of his manner and e | eonnicbooks CO