The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

THE BARONET AND ROYAL MAIDEN) 277 love which fills your soul, and which I no longer mistrust nor doubt,” cried the princess, flinging herself upon the baronet’s breast and appearing to grow there. “‘ And I thank God,” she continued, in a tone of exalted fervour, “ that I have been the instrument of thus reawakening you to a sense of earth’s bliss and the world’s enjoyment.” ‘This world has suddenly become a paradise to my view,”’ responded Sir Richard Stamford. ‘“ And yet, even now in the midst of this felicity which is so transcendent as to appear a dream, even now, I say, does a sudden cause of alarm spring up — ”’ ‘‘ Alarm! ”’ echoed the princess, withdrawing herself par- tially from his embrace and surveying him with mingled apprehension and surprise. ‘Oh, the alarm to which I allude springs from the love which I bear you,” hastily exclaimed the baronet; ‘ and it is indeed a natural consequence of that passion.” ‘““T do not understand you yet, Richard,”’ said the royal maiden. “ In mercy, explain yourself, and keep me not in suspense. ”’ ‘“ I mean, dearest Amelia,’ resumed the baronet, contem- plating her with ineffable fondness, “ that the love which I experience is not centred in a common object, but in a lady of the most exalted rank, a lady to whose hand I dare not aspire and with whom no clandestine marriage would be legal — ”’ ‘The love which I bear for you has no consideration of rites, ceremonies, or forms,” interrupted the princess Amelia, with a decision which belonged to her character, but which the strength of her passion now mainly inspired. “ It is a love,”’ she continued, looking steadily upon his countenance, ‘‘ which can recognize no human laws, no conventional statutes, a love acknowledging only the heart’s tenderest and holiest ties, the soul’s most sacred and solemn bonds. If this be the love that you can accept and that will make you happy, if this be the passion that you can reciprocate as tenderly and as devotedly — ”’ “Oh, can you doubt it, my best beloved, my charming — Amelia? ”’ exclaimed Sir Richard Stamford, catching her in- his arms and straining her to his breast. ‘‘ This is indeed a day of happiness for me. I awoke with a presentiment that many occurrences of a smiling character were to take place G) OO WO) (C(O)