The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

——————_—_—_—_—_— | | I know that you bave recently experienced many sad | Speak, thea, my dearest Pauline—and your | misgivings and painfal fore | “But it is so hard to abandon those delicious hopes which are indeed necessary to one’s existence {" ex- claimed Octavia, in a voice fraught with the terrible accents of despair. « Remember, my dearest sister,” said Pauline, her tone suddenly becoming hoarse, thick, and almost ferocious,—“ remember,” she repéated, more em- phatically than av first, “that the Prince of Wales is now undeserving of your love. But if you should still feel that your heart clings to his image ——" “My God! how can I ever efface that image from my soul?” exclaimed Octavia, now gazing in as- tonishment upon Pauline. “What, my dear sister— do you suppose that I can pluck forth this love of mine from my heart,—as if it were a flower which his faithless hand had placed in my bosom,—and trample it under foot? Oh! no—no: it were im- soesible! Look into the depthe of your own soul, Pauline—consider well the nature of that affection which you bear for Gabrieland then tell me whether it is something which you can break like glass, enap like a twig, or crush like a delicate rose- “ No—no—it is not,”” murmured Pauline, her voice becoming soft and tremulous again ; “and I was wrong—or rather foolish—to hopa for an instant that you could so easily triumph over your heart’s fondest affections. But, tell me, my dear sister—tell me how you mean to act--—” “Did you speak to—to—Aim last night f” inquired Octavia, in a stifling voice. “‘Yes—and he offered to make any reparation which lay in his power,” responded Pauline. “ What reparation can he make?” exclaimed Oc- tavia, bitterly. “He found my heart a temple pre- pared for the holiest, sincerest, n‘vet impassioned worship which ever con«ttuted tne Jove that woman bears for man—and he has left chat heart a rnin! Oh! my beloved sister, coursel—advise—instruct me: for I have no friend on earth in whom I can confide save thou !” And, with tears again etreaming from her eyes, Octavia threw herself upor the bosom of Pauline. “I know not what cours to recommend—-My God! I am as much bewildered as yoursc!f,” ex- claimed the latter, as she clasped her unha,py sister in an embrace which love and grief rendered con- vulsively passionate. “But does he lore me?—or has his affection subsided?” asked Octavia, slowly raising her head and looking intently upon Pauline’s countenance. “Oh! you do not answer me—you avert your eyes—and your manner convinces me that even his very love is dead I” “ No—no, Octavia,” exclaimed Pauline, empha- tically,—“I do not mean you to understand that/ But if his affection for you be ever so strong, you cannot enjoy it in honour to yourself! Ah! it was thie—it was this that was uppermost in my mind when I averted my looks and dared not answer ou. For listen to me attentively, my well-be- oved sister,” continued the young lady, wiping her eyes and summoning all her mental energies to her “ Speak—speak,” murmured Octavia. “I feel as if you were the elder sister—or as If you were a mother to me: for this cruel blow hes sadly shaoged me within the last quarter of .n hour! will console and strengthen me.” “In the first place, Octavia,” Miss Clarendon, “it is absolutely necessary that you should exerr<e an immense control over your feelings. To this point you must tutor yourself af once—without delay. Our father r-v return te the room—visitors may be annouoccu unexpeet- edly—and the strangest suspicions would be ex- cited were we found sad, and weeping, and afflicted thus sorely. Courage, then — dear sister — cou- rage!" exclaimed Pauline; “and nerve-yourself to look this tremendous misforame in the face—te. contemplate it with as much calmness as you cas call to your aid—to examine it in all its bearings— to study all its tendeacies—and to arrive at some settled opinion how tc act.” “Yes—yes: I will Le calm— I will be tranquil,” murmured Octavia, sobbing ‘profoundly between the broken assurances which she thus gave her sister, “But, my God! the calamity is dreadful, Pauline—dear Panline; and I know not whether it wil] end in suiaide or madness * “© heavens! talk not thus wildly, my beloved Octavia!” exclaimed the younger Miss Clarendon, embracing her sister and lavishing upon her the most endearing caresses. “Come—let us converse seriously —quietly—calmly——” “ But have you anything to suggest ?” demanded Octavia, hastily—a ray of hope flashing in upoa her soul. “Alas! I am myself almost bewildered,” said Pauline. “ And yet there are two alternatives for an injured woman to choose between in your case.” “Twe alternatives!” exclaimed Octavia. “Oh! yea,” she added bitterly :—“I have already men- tioned them —madness or suicide !” “Sister, you will distract me—you will render me unfit to counsel or console you! oried Pauline. “In the name of God, Octavia,” she exclaimed, throwing her arms round the anhappy young lady's neck, “do not talk thus — but fulfil your pro- mise——” “What promise did I make?” inquired Octavia, impatiently. . “ That you would be calm and tranquil—that you would listen to me with attention,” said Pauline, ia the most endearing tone. “ Were we not talking just now of the love which we bear for each other——” “Yes, dearest Pautine—and I am wrong, very wrong to say anything to distress you,” interrupted Octavia, returning her sister's caresses. “Now, Pauline, Iam calm—indeed I am: I wil] listen te you with attention, my dear good sister. You were telling me that there are two alternatives for my contemplation. I can see none. My brain whirls —I am bewildered I” And she laid her head upon Pauline's shoulder. “Rest yourself there, my belove cister,” ssij the young lady; “and listen while I cxplain myself to you. Do not interrupt me—but hear me to the end : and I will speak slowly that you may follow me easily and readily as [ proceed—for I can well] un- derstand, my poor Octavia, that this blow has fallen with tremendous weight upon your brain. | was saying, then, that there are two alternatives for you to contemplate. The first is to seek redress at the hands of the Prince of Wales—the second is to de vour your grief in secret. You may esk me what said the younger : a COLT NOOO) ‘SS CO