The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

208 THE COURT OF LONDON claimed Woodfall. ‘‘ Would you, then, accept a home at Bellenden Priory? ”’ The maiden gave no immediate answer; but she fixed her eyes upon the artist with a mingled expression of reproach and doubt, as if to intimate that it would be cruel of him to trifle with her feelings, and yet that she could scarcely believe him to be capable of such ungenerous conduct. ‘‘ Miss Foster, I am serious,”’ he hastened to observe. ‘‘ Do not wrong me by a suspicion.”’ “Oh, pardon me, Mr. Woodfall,’”’ she exclaimed; “ but I feared lest in your anxiety to serve me, you might be over- rating your ability, or at least that you fancied others to possess hearts as good and generous as your own, and as willing to afford the friendless orphan a home — ”’ ‘The Marchioness of Bellenden will receive you with open arms,” interrupted Woodfall, with the solemn seriousness of one who was confident in the assertion he was making. “Your misfortunes will endear you to her; and, moreover, even before I knew your name, which I only learned ere now, I have spoken of you to her ladyship.”’ “Spoken of me!” exclaimed the orphan, once more throwing upon the artist a look which, if not actually laden with suspicion, was at least mistrustful enough to give him pain. “Oh, now you doubt me again,’”’ he murmured, in a tone of mingled reproach and vexation. ‘ But it is natural; I am a stranger — ”’ | “Once more I beseech you to pardon me,” said Rose; and yielding to the impulse of that ingenuous fervour which made her feel that she was but ill-requiting the young man for all his kindness and disinterested attention toward her, she extended her hand, observing, ‘‘ I was wrong to doubt you, even for a moment; and indeed it was not doubt, but rather amazement and wonder — ”’ “That I should have ever mentioned you to the marchion- ess?’ exclaimed Woodfall, taking the fair hand of the orphan and pressing it gently in his own. ‘ But have I not already told you that your image has dwelt in my memory since the moment when we first met at the house of Lord Desborough in Berkeley Square? Is it surprising, then, that I should have spoken of you as the fair unknown to a lady who condescends to express an interest in my welfare? ”’ C@OMmiclooolkxSs.