The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 319: what you’re looking at

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308 from the idea of allying humble and obecure artist from Italy—then be it go: but let there be candour in your speceh! your pledges: and yet vindicated and innocent before you, I have a right to claim them if I would. But no. More generous than you, Flurina—more ready, too, to make any or every sacrifice for your sake—I will insist upon nothing that shall menace your happiness. No:”— and here his voice trembled—he murmured a few words which were inaudible, suffoeated as they were by the strength of this emotions—and he was hurry- ing abruptly away. “Mr. Deveril!’ exclaimed Fiorina, suddenly wiping the tears from her eyes—fur she had been weeping while he spoke: “we must not pert thus. “You have become the ascuser--——But I also have something to say in justification of myself !” Deveril turned back; and with an air of melan- choly composure, in which there was « certain blend- ing of his own offended dignity, he stood in front of Florina as she was seated upon the beneb in the arbour. “ Had Lady Saxondale’s story,” she resumed, m s tremulous voice, “been the only cause of annoyance | no whieh I felt in respect to yourself, you would nos have vainly sought an opportunity for explanation on that evening when you beheld me in the baleony of my aunt's house. Indeed, to give you a proof of my anxiety to seek such explanation—at the same time too,” she added in accents more low and tre- mulous still, “to afford you a proof of the sinterity of that affection which I had avowed for you-—I took a step which the world would have deemed most unmaidenly, and for the imprudence of which I was indeed but too severely punished! In the evening of the same day on which Ledy Saxondale brought her calumny to my sunt’s house, I stole forth, re- solving to visit you at your own abode—to tell you all that I had heard, and to beseech an explana- tion 99 “ Ah! you did this?” exciarmed Deveril, hope and | joy suddenly lighting up his countenance. “Then you loved me—you really loved me? But wherefore did you mot eome? why did you turn back? what prevented you from carrying out your generous intention ? Oh, what misery might have been spared to me!” Fiorina gased in astonialment upon the radiantly handsome countenance of William Doveril as he comamenced this speech: but as she recollected all she heard and saw at his dwelling on that fatal night, she could not help again thinking that this was ancther evidence of his mntchieces and she felt pained and shocked a6 the thought that it could be so. “I did ne¢ tern back on that occasion, Mr. Dere- rit,” she said m a cold calm woe. *I was not deterred by any cixcumstanee, nor prevented by any aceidemt from repairing to your abode near the Regent's Park. I entered the garden—the front door stood open--I heard what I will not and immediately after I saw what I will not allude to more. Hut it was all enough to convince me that while yeu were pretending that your heart was| possibly heve suspected wholly mine——" THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. her fate with that of the; crue and fate! mistake! Vierina, you heard end aw——” “ Angela Vivaldi.” A ory of wild delight thrilled from Florima’s lips; and precipitating herself into Deveril’s arms, she sobbed upon his breast, murmuring, “ Pardon me— forgive me—dearest, dearest W illia:n !” eee CHAPTER T.XIV WILLIAM DEVERILS HISTORY. Tg world has many delighte—human feelings may experience many pleasuree—the hearta of earth's denjzens sometimes thrill with ineffable raptures. But what joy—Oh! what joy, can compare with that which attends upon the reconciliation of lovers? When the dark clouds of jealousy have gathers over the heaven of a young maiden's seh ne wacee, il for thud Toate bet a hee’s to find them dispelled all in a moment, and the sun of hope bursting forth to gild another day end illume another state of being. The world hes superior to this. "Gach eas the delight experienced by Lady Florina Staunton at thet announcement which, failing upon her ears like an angel-voiee apeaking to a soul im paplens dneelvaliren, i deeariniie Me prety in a moment. And Deveril—was not he also happy ? Again end again did he press that being of tran- scendent beauty in his arms—he covered her brow, himself upon the bench, he placed her by his side and keeping both her hands locked in his vwn, he gazed upon her with the prolonged look of ineffable rapture. Thus did they sit together, gazing upon each other in profound silence for many minutes. Theirs was 8 j elysian, ineffablo—which appeared almost too holy for the mterruption of words.: Hut if their tongues were silent, most eloquently expree- sive were their looks: love shone in the deep cear blue of Florina’s eyes and glowed upon the purity of her coraplexion ; ;-and love too the breaking silence. “Oh, if on that day when I saw you from the balcony at my aunt's house, I had misery might have been spared us both !” “ Do not reproach yourself now, my beloved Fio- rina,” retarned Deveril, pressing her hand to his lips: “ the happiness which I enjoy at this moment, is a recompense for the past. And I do nvt blame you--nmot for an instant do I blame you! Apprer- ances were so much against me. But how could I that other incident which has just been cleared up! Oh, it was indeed a “ Ah!” ejaculated Deveril, a light suddenly break- | proof of love on your part to scek me at my own ing in upon him» “I understand it all! Ob,— | dwelling.” 2 rE, a er rg a Ee GON GoOO SS CO