The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 79: what you’re looking at

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64 THE MYSTERIES. friendship for you if you were not all that I re~ | vague apprehension—a feeling of increasing un- present? Oh! I am sure that you will be happy | easiness has come over——” in the affection that you have formed—for to “ Give not way to these idle fears, my beauteous know you is to love you !” friend,” interrupted Florimel, whose looks were “ Dearest Pauline,” murmured Florimel, in a | fixed upon the bosom of the virgin whom he sought tremulous tone, “I may repeat all your own | to make his victim: “do you think it possible that words and apply them to yourself—for to know | my vision can be realized? And even if it were, you is to love you also!” Pauline, should you be vexed ?—should you be “ We will love each otheras very sincerefrienda,” | annoyed? Ere now you told me that you had said the young maiden; and while she was thus | never yet experienced the passion of love; and I giving utterance to wordsthat were the outpourings | assured you, in reply, that earth's greatest happi- of her artless and ingenuous soul, she was simulta- | ness waa, in that case, still unknown to you. But neously laying aside further portions of her dress | you have declared your friendship for me—and I —until she stood in a state of semi-nudity in the | have proved to you that friendship iteelf ripens presence of the disguised nobleman, who was a | into love. Now, suppose for a moment that the prey to such varied and conflicting emotions that | fairy could come forth—oould touch me with a he was riveted as it were to his seat. wand—could change my sex—and could endow “ VY es—we will love each otherassincerefriends,” | me with a proud name and a colossal fortune,— hesaid, his voice so full of profound feeling that the | suppose all this, my sweet Pauline.—and then beauteous, unsuspecting Pauline was touched to | imagine that you saw me at your feet—that I the very soul by its soft and melodious tone; and | declared my fervent and unalterable love—that I throwing her arms round the traitor’s neck, she | implored you to become my wife, the partner of imprinted a fervent kiss upon his forehead. my rank and the sharer of my wealth,—tell me, But how did Florime] restrain his feelings now? | .my dearest, Pauline, what would youranswer be?” —how exercise the least control overa passion that Gradually asthe young nobleman thus developed was excited almost to madness? For by the | s theory which was in itself more or lessa revela- young maiden’s movement, his very conntenance | tion,—a suspicion, at first faint as the ringing of was brought in contact with her virgin bosom— | far-distant bells in the ear, rose up in the mind and her naked arms encircled him. of Miss Clarendon: then, as the idea which had “Q Pauline — Pauline,” he exclaimed, “you | flashed to her brain received confirmation from know not how much I love you !” the concluding words of the nobleman, her ‘It affords me an indescribable pleasure to re- {| countenance became convulsed with terror—e ceive that assurance,” said the charming girl, now | faint shriek escaped her lips—she staggered a few withdrawing her arms from his neck, and again | paces towards the window, her impuise being to approaching the toilette-table. open it and cry for help—but her limbs failed her, “But can you conjecture wherefore I love you so | and she sank almost insensible upon a chair. ardently ?—can you divine wherefore I could fall Florime) sprang from his seat—threw himself down and worship you ?” asked Florimel, in an | on his knees before her—and endeavoured to take impassioned tone; then without waiting forareply, | her hand. But, with the instinctive prompting of he said, “ It is not only because you are so beauti- | virgin modesty, Pauline crossed her arms over her ful and good—but it is also because you are the | bosom ;—and, bending a look full of mournful re- living counterpart of the object of my affections. | proach upon nobleman, she said, “ You are not Oh! if you and I love each other thus sincerely, | what you seem! Tell me who you are, and the would it not be a joyous event if some fairy | purpose which has brought you hither ?” could suddenly start up from the floor, and change “ Adorable Pauline,” exclaimed Florimel, “ the one of us into a being of the opposite sex ?” fairy has accomplished the task—and it is*s “O Gabrielle, what a strange idea!” exclaimed , devoted lover who kneels at your feet!” Pauline, turning round towards her companion, The young maiden started from thechair. A pro- with a sudden feeling of uneasiness springing up | found sense of danger inspired her with sudden in her soul. energy; and seizing a shawl, she hastily threw it “ Nay— do not reproach me, my angelic friend,” | over ber shoulders, wrapping it across her bosom ; criedFlorimel. “You willfind that lam a roman- | then, drawing herself up to the full height of her tic creature, fond of giving my imagination full play, | noble stature, while her countenance, losing its ex- andattimes somewhat dreamy and visionary. But . pression ofalarm, assumed asovereign dignity alike you will bear with mein that, Pauline—yon will not | interesting and imposing, she said, “ Whoever you chide your friend on this account! Suffer me toin- | may bo, 1 command you to leave methismoment!” dulge in the delicious thoughts in the stream of “ Sooner than thusquit you—sooner than leave which my soul was being gently borne along, and | you mortally offended against mo,” cried Florimel, whose current leads amidst flowery scenes to the | who had risen from his suppliant posture at the very portals of elysium. I was conjuring up a! same moment that Pauline started from her seat, beatific vision when you interrupted me:—I was | —“ T will commit suicide in your presence! My fancying that ifall we havo read of fairicsand good , God, have pity upon me! I love—I adore you, genii could possibly be true, how delightful were | — Pauline—and your indignation, if unappeased, it if one of that powerful race would suddenly ap- | will reduce me to despair.” pear before us—touch me with amagic wand—and “Tt is impossible that this interview can be pro- say, ‘ Thou adorest Pauiine—tbecome a man—throw . longed,” said the young maiden, her tone becoming thyself at her feet—and claim her as thy wife f” a trifle less severe and her countenance losing a “ Gabrielle—I implore you not tocontinue in thia | small portiun ofitsinflexibility. “I again command strain,” cried Pauline, gazing strangely upon the you to leave me—as the only condition on which flushed cheeks and flashing eyes of hercompanion. you may ever hope to obtain my pardon for this “ You terrify me—1 know not why ;—and yet a . black treachery and cowardly outrage.” a Eee ECOMicooolks