The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

134 a= (pense, Ga ciation well nigh intolerable which Florina thus euffered—or rather a series of excruciations more poignant than any thet had over proviounly entered into her young heart's Presently, after having delivered herself of an immensely long tirade of invectives against the young artist, Lady Macdonald rang the bell furi- eal and when a footman answered the summons, she said, “When Mr. Deveril calls at the house with for the future, and that if he will send in his account a cheque shall be remitted for the “Yes, my lady,” was the footman’s reply: and he quitted the room. Fiorma felt as if her heart must burst. She could endure this state of inward torture no louger ; and quitting the drawing-room, she hastened up to ber own chamber, where she threw herself upon the couch and gave vent to her woe in a torrent of the bitterest weeping. Long, Oh! far too long, poor girl, was that paroxyam of almost mortal an anguish to the love which she experienced for Deveril—and that love iteelf was illimitable! When the violence of her emotions had somewhat exhausted itself and she began to feel that she was capable of serious reflection, she rose from the eouch on which she had flung herself in her despair, and taking her seat on a sofa, em deavoured to reflect upon all that had occurred. She could not altogether believe Lady Saxondale’s story; and yet she could not doubt it. She fancied that there must be some foundation for it; but that her ladyship, either in her vanity or her anger, had exaggerated many of the details. Deeply aad William Deveril, as Fiorina loved and dreadful as it was to put faith in a narrative so damnatory to his sincerity, yet the young ledy, as she was in the ways of the world, eould not possibly imagine that it was all false, and that instead of a wanton inconstancy being imputed to Deveril, it was a sheer wickedness that lay at the door of Ledy Saxondale. But though unable to | i believe in Deveril’s complete innocence, Florina was mot prepared to break off with him entirely without previously giving him an opportunity of explana- tion—or justification, if possible. There was still far too much confidence in her love not to induce her to adopt this course; end though tortured by horrible doubts as she was, there was likewise too much justice in ber heart to permit the young damsel to condemn her lover upon that purely one- sided statement. “ And yet,” she thought within herself, “ what could he possibly say in his defence? There surely must be some foundation for Lady Sexondale’s state- ments; and if that foundation be ever so slight, it is nevertheless sufficient to form a colossal monument of Deveril’s perfidy towardsine. Oh! who would have seems impossible! it secs impossible! Not merely is love outraged, but every idea of propristy—and vile, profligate——And, who could believe him to be all this? But Lady Saxondale—would she invent such a story? For THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. was it wickedness? No, no—Laedy Sazcndale is in- capable of that. A worldly-minded womans she is; but not so thoroughly bleck-hearted, Oh! I am tortured with I am racked with unces- taimty. Would to heaven that I had never known William Deveril at all—or at least, that I had never loved him!” - Again did Viorina’s tears flow thick end fast; and her bosom wae convulsed with sobs. “Oh! if he were really innoeent after ail,” she frightful indige nity is this which my aunt hes ordered to be pat upon him! To have the door shat in his face—to be told to send in his bill like any tradesman who is — | how deeply will he feel this insalt! And this is not all. His character will be ruined—Laedy Saxondale is spreading the story~——Ob! she would not dare do this unless ahe had just ground i—no, she would not dare do it—it is too serious—and I foar—Oh! I fear, that Deveril is indeed false. Ah, why have I loved him? There is not a book I ever read and in which love is introduced, that it is not represented as enduring the severest triale. Why does every poet depict love as being thus tortared ? why does every novelist describe its current as never flowing pare to boca capable of chdding ovet In this manner mused the unhappy Fiorina Staunton, till at length her ideas reached « pitch so torturing, 90 intolerable, that che felt she must do something in order to put an end to this state of mind. She must know the trath at once; to live tossed upon the waves of uncertainty, were an ex- istence whieh she could not endure. If Deveril had been guilty of all that Lady Saxondale i te him, the sooner Fiorina knew the worst the better: she could then summon all her fortitade to her aid, and endeavour to stifle her love in her heart. But if on the other hand William Deveril were innocent— if through misapprehension of hie meaning at the time, ar if in the spirit of sheer was this to be managed? When he tailed at the house the door was to be shut in his face. She thought of writing to him: but if she proposed an appointment, where could they meet? The cacum- stances in which the young lady found herself placed, @ ElOOO COMM