The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE PAST 185 retire for a season to Rochester, and when he was therefore courting Melissa. Falling upon his knees, he confessed everything, passionately pleading the infatuation of his love as the only excuse he could offer for his treacherous conduct. His marriage, indeed, with Melissa had been a mere mockery, for though a special license was really obtained, as any one upon payment of certain fees can procure such a document, yet the individual who had acted as the clergyman on the occasion was an unprincipled, profligate fellow, a broken- down gentleman, in short, whom Sir Archibald Malvern had bribed to become an accomplice in the solemn but perfidious farce. Such was the confession which the baronet made to the deceived Melissa, and in the hearing of the sorrowful but likewise indignant Lydia. To do him justice, he was over- whelmed with grief and stricken with remorse, for in truth he loved Melissa well, although in the selfishness and the heartlessness of that love he had made her his victim. He implored her forgiveness, vowing that he would ever continue his attentions toward herself, and a paternal care in respect to the children; and he besought that for his own sake and for that of his wife an exposure might be avoided. And Melissa did forgive him. Yes, so ardent and sincere was her love that she granted him her pardon. But in her weak and enfeebled condition at the time the blow was more than she could endure, and despite all the attentions of the eminent physicians whom Sir Archibald Malvern in his anguish and alarm summoned to attend upon her, she failed rapidly, and in a few days ceased to exist. When the funeral was over, Lydia composed her half- distracted feelings as well as she was able, in order to have a serious conversation and come to a solemn understanding with Sir Archibald Malvern relative to a future provision for the motherless children whose care now devolved upon herself. The baronet at once desired her to specify the arrangements which she was anxious for him to make. Her future plans were already settled, and her notions in pecuniary matters were limited and economical. Neverthe- less, her own sources of income having utterly failed through the bankruptcy of the public company, she found herself altogether dependent upon Sir Archibald Malvern. She therefore stipulated for an income of £120 a year, with (C(O) nn) (C 0)(0)©) <Si