The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 351: what you’re looking at

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

$40 THE MYETERIRS OF THE COURT. taneously assuming a smiling countenance, she welcomed him with her wonted affection. * My dear sister,” said the young Duke, “I am come to speak to you cr a serious subject" “JT can anticipate it,” che anawored: “and I regarding her with the tenderest fraternal love: You refused——buft tell me why, Christina? Give me your confidence, as you have ever given it to me.” “T have no secret, Christian, unknown to you,” ied. “J regard Captain Stanley as a friend =-=but I do not love him as I feel that one ought to love him who is accepted as a husband. You know everything, my dear Christian !—you know why I do not love Robert Stanley, and why I cannot love him !” Thus speaking, the young maiden threw her arms about ber brother's neck; and she reposed her blushing countenance upon his shoulder. “Tell me, my sweet sister—teil me,” he softly asked, “does your mind still cherish an image which, in spite of all your virtue and purity, made impression there P” “No, Ohristian—no!” responded his sister, raising ber head and meeting his gaze with the eteadiness of one conscious that she was speaking the truth, and prondly satisfied with herself that she was enabled to prociaim auch a truth “I have enceeeded in triumphing over that weakness e~that criminal folly on my part. I was resolved to exercise all my mental energies; and heaven me. I prayed fervently—Oh! how fer- vently—for that assistance; and it was vouch- a Es “ But are you sure, my sweet Christina, that you are not miscalculating the strength of your own mind—that because in the purity of your thoughts you wish it to be strong, you deem that it really is so “ Believe me, Christian,” she answered, “I am mot deceiving myself any more than I am de- ceiving you. There was a daty to be performed ; and it has been accomplished. Oh, my beloved brother ! do you not think that the ‘knowledge of our mother’s sad, ead history must have been fraught with moral teachings for me? How fatal to her happiness was that love of her’s—a love which endured after she became the wife of an- other! Could I, then, be otherwise than appalled, frightened, and ‘dismayed by the contemplation of that sentiment which I was experiencing for one who is the husband of another? I grappled with it as if it were a serpent which had coiled itself around my heart: I seised it by the throat—I strangled it—I tossed it away from me. Ah! it was a straggie, Obristian !—and yet it has been accomplished! I fesl~I know—in the strength of my own soul can I declare, that were I to meet Lord Octavian Meredith this mument, no change would take place within me:—my self-poseession would not be outwardly assumed, but inwardly felt 1” “Christina,” cried her brother, in a tone of exultation, “ more weloome to me than a thousand I have been anxious to speak to you ject : but I have not dared to approach it. I was fearful that by a single word I might revive feel- ings and memories which in my heart I hoped were becoming subdued and were melting away. Oh ! I repeat, my beloved sister, the joy which I now experience is greater than language can ex- press |” “And I, my dear brother,” answered the affeo- tionate girl, “am proud as well as happy that I can look you in the face and in the sincerity of my soul give you these assurances. Oh! all the events which came upon us a few months back with the rapidity of a succession of hurricanes, produced a marvellous effect upon me. I have learnt that the soul cannot be strong uniess resolve be previously taken that it shall strengthened: I have learned to comprehend maxim that ‘heaven only helps those who help themeelves.’ Zoe's letters enable me to compre- hend that Lord Octavian himeelf has entered fally into the path of duty: he appreciates all the ex- cellent qualities of his amiable and loving wife ; and their happiness is now complete. Could I, even with the slightest remnant of a selfish senti- ment, again threaten their felicity? Heaven for- bid! If I did not feel how strong in moral pur- lt happy of creatures !” “Then why not, Christina, accept the eddressas of the Hon. Captain Stanley Pa asked the young Duke. The maiden shook her head—and replied, “ The effort which it has cost me to crush one sentiment -| in my heart, seems to have closed the avenue for the entrance of another. I repeat that I can re- gard Captain Stanley as a very dear friend—but nothing more. Besides, Christian,” added Chris- tina, remoreefully, “ even if it were different—even if I felt that I could love Captain Stanley—I would not acoept his suit without previously making him acquainted with all that bas passed. I would keep no secret from him whom I con- sented to accompany to the altar.” “There again spoke my pure and noble-minded sister!” exclaimed Christian. “You cannot do otherwise than admire the many noble qualities of Robert Stanley. He is intelligent—be is gene- rous-hearted—his character is unimpeachable—his life is immaculate. He possceses rank, and wealth, and personal beauty—though these lsst conside- rations, I know, must weigh little with you, my dear sister, in comparison with the former. Al- though you have so grandly triumphed over one sentiment in your heart, you may not be enabled to comprehend that heart of yours so thoroughly as to arrive at the conclusion that it may never love again. At least you will confess to me that if, in some supposed case, if were your destiny’s GOnMIGOOOKS —_ -» (CO