The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

eS Se om. -— ee -—- — . - = TILE MYSTERIES OF INE COURT. — —-- eS For you may have observed that I loved you, Ve- netia—yes, you must have discovered it, despite all iny efforts to veil my thoughts——But why do you weep?” he asked suddenly, and in a voice of the most melting tenderness, * Because [am unworthy of a virtuous love,” re- peied Venetia, a deep sob convyulsing her bosom. “Though pure and chaste as on the day of my birth —so far as the world reckons purity and chastity— ee yet is not my soul already polluted? Have I no: systematically and deliberatel y——” “Qh! let us not talk of that, Venetia !”’ exclaimed Horace, with a species of shudder. “If my love be not offensive —unwelcome—unacceptable——” “But you know, Horace,” interrupted Miss Tre- lawney, suddenly wiping the tear-drops from her countenance and regaining her self-possession, if not her composure,—* you know that I have gone too far to retreat—that I have embarked in this enterprise -+that my destiny is as it were fixed r. “Oh! fulfil that destiny, then, by all means, since you will,” cried Ilorace, with impassioned tone and vehement manner; ‘ but do not disdain my love! Be what you will—-do what you choose —accomplish all you have undertaken—but spare one little corner of your heart wherein my image may find a piace !” “You would hate and despise me when the first transports of this love of your’s were over!” said Venetia, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, * No—that were impossible!” exclaimed Sack- ville, impetuously. “Listen to me, Venetia— charming Venetia,” he continued, with a voice of earnest entreaty. “You will become the mistress of the Prince—but you need not love him—you gannot love him! I know your character and have studied your disposition too well, to believe for & moment that you will ever entertain the slightest affection for that man. But if you can _ love the, I shall be happy—oh! supremely happy: yet¢—even while you are the mistress of another! You said just now that I should hate and despise you after a time when the tempest of my passion had subsided or its ardour was cooled down: but its intenseness will never diminish. I loved you the first moment I saw you—I have loved you ever since-—I love you now,—yes, love you to dis- traction: and so far from loviny you less, [ shall if possible love you more and more. But it is you who will hate and despise me for cherishing this love under such cireumstances: and yet all [ ask i$ to be your slave —to be allowed to luve you—to happy in possessing your love—and honoured in obtaining your hand. This love of mine may be an infatuation—a raadness-—a frenzy: but it is not the less powerful—less profound—or less sin- cere on that account. Nor will it ever diminish, Venetia—Oh! never, never !” “[f know not how to answer you, Horace—or what to say,” observed Miss Trelawney, still leav- tne her hand locked in his own, but casting down her eyes and blushing deeply. ‘I will not deceive you by saying that [ have loved you as yet: nor do IT mean to flatter you vainly when I declare that you are the only being I have ever yet seen whom L feel that L can love,” “Thanks, my dearest—my adored Venetia, for this avowal!” exclaimed Horace, catching her in his arms and straining her to his breast: then, as he held her thus Jocked in his embrace, he pressed his lips’ to her’s—and inspired by the natural fer- vour of her temperament, she gave back the warm and impassioned kiss which he imprinted there. “Heavens! Venetia,’ murmured the young man as he strained her again and again with passionate ardour to his breast, “ I can scarcely believe in my own happiness!—it appears to me a delicious dream! But you will be mine, Venetia—you will become my wife ?—yes, even under existing cir- cumstances-——” “But have we no one to consult in this matter, Horace?” inguired Venetia, gently disengaging herself from his arms, with the deep crimson upon her cheeks and the soft sensuousness in her melt- ing eyes. “A consent will not be refused, my angel, in that quarter !” returned Sackville. “ What does it signify, so long as the design and the undertaking be carried out? And I have already declared—in- deed, I promise again—that although I become your husband, I will not attempt any constra.nt in that respect! Ah! Venetia, is not this a proof of the ardent and profoundly sincere affection with which you have inspired me ?” “Tt is,’ murmured the lady: “itis! But lam still fearful that when once I am your wife—that ‘being whose honour the fond husband guards so jealously “Venetia, listen to me once again,” iiterrupted Sackville, seriously but impressively. ‘ The world would never have known greater happiuess than I should experience were you to say to me, * Horace, I abandon this enterprise and I consent to become your wife, even though our marriage should suddenly receive your smiles in returv! And if it should | deprive us both of the means of existence and plunge be possible fur you to love me also—Oh! then I would accept any degradation—any humiliation, rather than surrender that love of your's, Yes— joyfully, joyfully would 1 become your husband, if you would bestuw your hand upon meso that your reputation should be saved in the eyes of the world-——” *Oh! Horace,” exclaimed Venetia, taking his hand and gazing tenderly upon him,—“this de- voted love of your’s is a gift which no woman can refuse! But have you well reflected upon all that you now tell me?” © Well reflected, Venetia!" cried Horace, earry- ing her hand rapturously to his lips: “it hus been my constant thought by day and my dream by night! 1 tell you that if you were already the mistress of the Prince, I should esteem myself! se - -_—_— —o us into the direst poverty” Because, were you thus to address me, I should tell you in return that though utterly dependent now upon another, [ would work from morning to night to maintain you in comfort, if notin luxury, But I do not ask you to make so great a sacrifice for my sake. I am contented—nay, supremely happy—in receiv- ing you as my wife, even with the conditions which {need not name attached to our union! Therefore, dearest Venetia, L do all this with my eyes open: L accept that destiny whieli will become mine when { make you wy wife;—anud [ would sooner en- counter the jeers and scorn of the world, than re- sign your haud! You see, then, that I ain decided —that my mind is made up: and now will you promise to become my bride ?” “T will,” answered Venetia, in a tone that was Re LT TT eae ee CT: LAL LLL | C ___—__ -- -— - ——_—-_ —_ --::™"_uuN —_— - —— Eee _ COMMCOOOKSaC