The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

ROSE FOSTER AGAIN 53 spare me, great prince, and let me depart hence in safety. Do this, and I will forgive you for the past, I will cease to look upon you as the cause of my parents’ de th. Oh, spare me, spare me! On my knees again do I implore your Royal Highness to spare me.” ‘Will you hear me for a single moment? ” exclaimed the prince, darting forward and sustaining her as she was about to sink into a suppliant posture once more. ‘Then, ere the shriek of terror which rose to her lips had time to burst forth, he quitted the slight hold that he had laid upon her and resumed his leaning attitude against the door. “* Now you perceive,” he said, hastily, “ that I am not unreasonable, that I can tutor myself to the exercise of forbearance, and that I deserve alike your attention and your patience.” ‘“‘ Speak, speak!’ cried the trembling girl, casting down her eyes beneath the devouring looks of passion which he bent upon her. ‘‘ What has your Royal Highness to say to me? Wherefore can you not be generous and grant my prayer at once? ”’ ‘‘ Because I wish to make you a proposal, Rose,” was the immediate response; ‘‘ and I fervently hope, nay, I conjure you, that it may receive a calm and serious consideration.” ‘A proposal! ” murmured the young orphan, with a cold shudder passing over her entire frame. ‘“‘ What proposal can the Prince of Wales have to make to an obscure, humble, and unhappy girl? Oh, none, none that is honourable and to which I ought to listen,”’ she added, with wildness in her voice, her looks, and her manner. “In the name of God, tranquillize yourself, if only for a few minutes,’ exclaimed the prince. “ For it is precisely because you are obscure, humble, and unhappy that you should not turn a deaf ear to the words which I am about to utter. And start not when I declare that inasmuch as you are beautiful and good and virtuous, so do I love and esteem and admire you. But marriage is impossible — you know that I cannot address you with truthfulness and sin- cerity on that point; and the time for practising any duplicity or delusion toward you is past. What, then, do I propose? That you should consent to be unto me as a wife, though without the name; and to you will I conduct myself as a tender and affectionate lover. Wealth, luxury, and pro- fusion shall surround you; a splendid mansion shall be (C(O) Anyi 6)(0)©)