The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

THE VIRGIN AND THE VOLUPTUARY 179 his very countenance was brought in contact with her virgin bosom, and her naked arms encircled him. ‘Oh, Pauline — Pauline,” he exclaimed, ‘‘ you know not how much I love you!” “It affords me an indescribable pleasure to receive that assurance,” said the charming girl, now withdrawing her arms from his neck, and again approaching the toilet-table. “But can you conjecture wherefore I love you so ar- dently? can you divine wherefore I could fall down and worship you?” asked Florimel, in an impassioned tone. Then without waiting for a reply, he said, ‘‘ It is not only because you are so beautiful and good, but it is also because you are the living counterpart of the object of my affections. Oh, if you and I love each other thus sincerely, would it not be a joyous event if some fairy could suddenly start up from the floor, and change one of us into a being of the opposite sex? ” ‘“ Oh, Gabrielle, what a strange idea! ’’ exclaimed Pauline, turning around toward her companion, with a sudden feeling of uneasiness springing up in her soul. “Nay, do not reproach me, my angelic friend,’ cried Florimel. ‘“ You will find that Iam aromantic creature, fond of giving my imagination full play, and at times somewhat dreamy and visionary. But you will bear with me in that, Pauline, you will not chide your friend on this account! Suffer me to indulge in the delicious thoughts in the stream of which my soul was being gently borne along, and whose current leads amidst flowery scenes to the very portals of Elysium. I was conjuring up a beatific vision when you interrupted me. I was fancying that if all we have read of fairies and good genii could possibly be true, how delightful were it if one of that powerful race would suddenly appear before us, touch me with a magic wand, and say, ‘ Thou -adorest Pauline — become a man — throw thyself at her feet — and claim her as thy wife!’ ”’ “ Gabrielle, I implore you not to continue in this strain,” cried Pauline, gazing strangely upon the flushed cheeks and flashing eyes of her companion. ‘‘ You terrify me — I know not why; and yet a vague apprehension, a feeling of in- creasing uneasiness has come over — ”’ “Give not way to these idle fears, my beauteous friend,”’ interrupted Florimel, whose looks were fixed upon the bosom (C(O) i 0) Oy 0) (CO)