The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

70 in a tone of sincerity, “it is your bright example that has worked so salutary an effect.” “ Dear Gabriel, you know not how it delights me to hear you speak in language characterised by truthfulness and candour. You are far—oh! far bhandsomer, now that your features are expressive of frankness and sincerity, than when your words were fraught with guile and deceit.” “You feel, then, that you can love me, sweet Pauline?” asked the nobleman, a pure and holy delight imparting ecstatic sensations to his soul. “ As unreservedly as I declare that I shall hate you if your present behaviour change towards me, do I confess that I can love you with all my heart—even to the laying down of my life for your sake—if your real character should prove to be as I now read it.” This response commenced with a dignity that bore the most unequivocal testimony to the strength of the maiden’s virtuous resolves, and concluded with a tenderness which showed that her gentlo heart was indced susceptible of a pure and honourable love. “ Never again, dearcst Pauline,” observed Filo- rimel, ‘‘shall you have cause to reproach me. And now issue your commands—that I may show my zeal and readiness in obeying them.” “ You will undertake to do all I have asked in reference to my sister—my poor, lost, fallen Octavia ’” said the maiden, her voice becoming tremulous with emotion. “TY swear to accomplish your wishes,” replied Florimel. “Tt is now nearly two o'clock in the morning,” continued Pauline, after referring to her watch. “Doubtless my father is asleep—he was much wearied when he retired to rest an bour ago— and you can descend the stairs so cautiously that he will not be disturbed. At all events the trial must be made—the risk must be incurred.” Then, without any affectation of prudery,—but with a charming readiness which implied the full extent of the confidence that the maiden now placed not only in her own virtue but likewise in the altered sentiments of her lover,—Pauline hastened to put the gipsey hat on Florimel’s head and tie the ribands beneath his chin. She then assisted him to resume his ample shawl, which she herself fastened for him over his chest: and when these arrangements were completed, she olserved, with an arch smile, “The next time that I have the pleasure of seeing you, my dear Gabriel, you will have the kindness to ap- pear in the costume befitting your sex.” “You will permit me to call again soon—very soon ?” said Florimel, interrogatively. “ With pleasuro,” was the candid reply. “ But. upon what pretence can you visit the house? And remomber that when you do come, we must appear before my father as if we had not been previously acquainted.” ‘‘He is a relative of Lord Marchmont, I be- lieve ?” observed Florimel, after a fow moments’ reflection. “ That nobleman is a friend of mine, and I can procure an introdaction from him to Mr. Clarendon. But what explanation am I to give to your sister ?” “Precisely the same that I shall offor,” re- sponded Pauline. “JI shall tell her that you came hither in disguise, and with a treacherous intention towards myself—that I detected your perfidy, and remonstrated with yon upon your THE 3SIYSTERIES. - conduct, appealing to your generosity and your honour to depart forthwith—and that you ex- pressed so much sincere contrition as to obtain my pardon. You then informed me thet accident had made you acquainted with my sister’s indis- cretion, and that I implored you to rescue her from the perils into which she had fallen. But you need not say that you passed two hours with me in this chamber,” added Pauline, with a dig- nified frankness of tone and manner, although a blush suffused her cheeks at the same time; “ be- cause, Inasmuch as Octavia herself has yielded to temptation, it were perhaps difficult for me to escape a suspicion on her " “And yet, if I inform her that her father has returned home, and that his arrival took place in the middle of the night,—or rather, at an early hour in the morning,” said Florimel, “ she will wonder where [ could have been concealed all that time.” “Trae!” exclaimed Pauline, now much em- barrassed. ‘And yet it is absolutely n that ashe should be prepared beforshand to meet our father,” she added, in a musing tone. “Oh! it ig repugnant to my feelings to deal in duplicity and deceit: nevertheless, I could not endure the idea of being suspected even by my own sais- ter———” “Permit me to suggest an expedient,” inter- rupted Florimel, who saw that the whole and sole difficulty to be cleared away was the fact that he had been introduced Into the maiden’s bed-chamber. “I will tell your sister that my interview with you took place in one parlour, and that when your father arrived you conducted him into another.” ‘“‘ Gabriel, I thank you for this delicacy—this generosity on your part,” exclaimed Pauline, taking his hand and pressing it tenderly for an instant. ‘“ We have now no more to gay to each other,—unless it be that on my side I must en- join you tv adopt such measures as to ensure the return of Octavia before eight o'clock this morn- ing—or all will be lost !” ‘You may rely upon me, my beloved Pauline,” answered Florimel. The maiden then cautiously opened the door— and the two descended the stairs together as noiselessly as possible. When they gained the passage below, they paused and listened. All was silent; and, ro- assured by the certainty that her father slept, Pauline opened the street-door. “ Farewell, sweetest—loveliest girl,” said Flori- mel, in the lowest possible whisper. “ Farewell,” murmured the maiden, in an equally subdued tone. Their lips met for a moment—the soft sound of a billing kiss broke upon the solemn silence of the night—and in another instant the front door was closed noiselessly behind the disguised nobleman. Pauline succeeded in regaining her chamber without disturbing Mr. Clarendon; and she re- tired to rest for afew hours. But the sleep that fell upon her eyes was uneasy and restless—for even in her dreams was she haunted by fears lest her sister’s absence throughout the entire night should be discovered by her father. And in those dreams did not the imago of the handsome Gabriel appear to tho maiden? We believe so! NOOO) ‘SS CO