The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

180 THE COURT OF LONDON of the virgin whom he sought to make his victim. ‘ Do you think it possible that my vision can be realized? And even if it were, Pauline, should you be vexed? should you be annoyed? Ere now you told me that you had never yet experienced the passion of love; and I assured you, in reply, that earth’s greatest happiness was, in that case, still un- known to you. But you have declared your friendship for me, and I have proved to you that friendship itself ripens into love. Now, suppose for a moment that the fairy could come forth, could touch me with a wand, could change my sex, and could endow me with a proud name and a colossal fortune, — suppose all this, my sweet Pauline, — and then imagine that you saw me at your feet, that I declared my fervent and unalterable love, that I implored you to become my wife, the partner of my rank and the sharer of my wealth, tell me, my dearest Pauline, what would your answer be? ” Gradually, as the young nobleman thus developed a theory which was in itself more or less a revelation, a suspicion, at first faint as the ringing of far-distant bells in the ear, rose up in the mind of Miss Clarendon; then, as the idea which had flashed to her brain received confirmation from the concluding words of the nobleman, her countenance be- came convulsed with terror, a faint shriek escaped her lips, she staggered a few paces toward the window, her impulse being to open it and cry for help, but her limbs failed her, and she sank almost insensible upon a chair. Florimel sprang from his seat, threw himself on his knees before her, and endeavoured to take her hand. But, with the instinctive prompting of virgin modesty, Pauline crossed her arms over her bosom, and, bending a look full of mourn- ful reproach upon the nobleman, she said, ‘‘ You are not what you seem. Tell me who you are, and the purpose which has brought you hither? ”’ ‘“ Adorable Pauline,’ exclaimed Florimel, ‘‘ the fairy has accomplished the task, and it is a devoted lover who kneels at your feet! ”’ The young maiden started from the chair. A profound sense of danger inspired her with sudden energy; and seizing a shawl, she hastily threw it over her shoulders, wrapping it across her bosom. Then, drawing herself up to the full height of her noble stature, while her countenance, COMIC OOOKS»C)