The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

- A A ELLE LLG LL LE! LLL A — << ————— 28 “Let me, however, be convinced that my dear Adeline has no scruples in giving her assent to a day so near at hand,” pursued the peer, gazing tenderly on the fair form before him. “ Have I been too pre- cipitate in fixing the period of our nuptials—too eager to avail myself of the happiness in store?” and with the permitted privilege of.an accepted lover, he en- closed her waist affectionately as he spoke. “That which is agreeable to your lordship,” re- sponded Lady Temple, slightly blushing and casting her eyes coquettishly to the ground, “ cannot prove otherwise to myself, particularly as—as—” and ‘she in confusion, hesitating to proceed. “As the Countess Walsingham, your respected relative, and myself have already been so considerate as to arrange the preliminaries? Am I not right in that was to be your reply?” Adeline playfully signified the earl had correctly interpreted her meaning. “Then on Thursday week, at St. George’s, Hanover Square,” continued the earl, “I shall have reason to myself the happiest of men. And now, Adeline, having thus far assured myself of the period when my life of celibacy will expire, may I beg the favour of a little serious conversation with you?” “ Serious conversation!” echoed his surprised auditor, uplifting her eyes towards his, and looking at him with strange interest and perplexity; “what can possibly have induced your lordship to think of suchathing?” “ Yes, that which I am about to say is far different to the ordinary language of a lover, and therefore I preface it with that phrase to engage your more earnest attention. But I must beg of you to discard in the first place this formal mode of addressing me; call me Arthur—it will please me better, and is more _ consonant to the position in which we stand.” YT will do so for the future; but I was afraid, Arthur, that you might have thought me too familiar, too boldly presuming in discourse to anticipate my future privileges. I shall henceforth be less scrupu- lous; but you were about to communicate something _ to me of importance, and the increased gravity of vour manner only heightens my anxiety to hear it.” “It is of importanee,” emphasised the earl, his features becoming more earnest and sombre in their expression; “but let us be seated, and I would again solicit your attention to my words.’ | Placing a chair for Adeline in the recess of the old _ bow-window overlooking the square, and occupying himself a place by her side, the earl took her hand impressively within his own, and thus began: * We are about shortly to be united, and before that irrevocable vow is made that death alone can sever, _ I should wish you, Adeline, to calmly and dispassion- _ ately reflect on the change that is upon the eve of taking place.” He paused for an instant, as if suppressing some , Strong emotion that rose within his breast, and then continued in the same calm and sententious strain as “ The difference in our ages will naturally produce a corresponding variance in our inclinations. I am partial to a retirement which to you would seem irk- some, and averse, therefore, to withdraw you from | those scenes of gaiety and splendour of which you are _ born to be the ornament; I am desirous that you should still mingle in society, even though I should not be the companion of your pleasures, You will find me kind, affectionate, and indulgent—unwilling to | deprive you of any enjoyment that may tend to pro- ~~ —— —= - ee THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, mote your happiness; but in return I shall expect from you love, gratitude, and obedience.” “ My heart now acknowledges the two first,” raur- mured Adeline; “and the last becomes indeed my duty.” “T shall be no tyrant in my commands,” resumed the earl, a faint smile appearing on his noble and manly countenance; “but should I find the exube- rance of youth require that gentle training which my experience of the world enables me to give, I shall expect that you will yield in deference to a judgment that comes at least accredited by age.” Adeline, in whose heart that final sentence had caused a painful chord to vibrate, was about to ven- ture ona reply; but the words died away upon her lips, and she remained silent. “ My demeanour tewards you, I am aware, has ex- hibited little of that enthusiastic temperament which is presumed to indicate the ardour of an attachment. At my time of life we speak of matters of this nature with reflections guided by reason, rather than by the whirlwind of passion. It is to bring before you these anticipations of the life that you are about to lead that I have therefore sought this present interview. Is the picture that I have drawn displeasing ?” “Oh! my lord, a thousand actions have testified your kindness and devotion towards me; I should be indeed unworthy of your esteem, had not admiration for your noble, generous character been awakened in return; and to now doubt the sincerity of your words, to deny that the existence you have taught me to expect is that which will prove most agreeable to my wishes, I feel would be to acknowledge myself inca- pable of meriting your regard. You are the master of my heart and hand, and I desire no other.” ! “ This assurance, Adeline,” exclaimed the earl, as he raised her hand to his lips, “ has removed a doubt that has sometimes pressed heavily upon my mind. Yes, a doubt of the true basis on which your attach- ment to me has been founded. Pardon me if I am becoming tedious in my candour, but between us there should be no reservations—nothing that we can after- wards look back upon with regret. I have thought, in one of those gloomy moods when we are disposed to view the darker phases of our life, that the per- suasions of the countess might have biased your de- cision—that you might have wished yourself unfet- tered, and that perhaps you had already sighed in secret for a more congenial partner. To hear, how- ever, from yorr own lips, the frank avowal that I am the sole possessor of your heart, is a rapture that I hardly dared to hope,” “Then did you really imagine, Arthur, that I could find a worthier lover in the tribe of butterfly suitors that fluttered round me when I on their dominions? Oh! how little do you know their hollow’ worthlessness! how deeply do you wrong yourself! Rigidly excluded from the world, brought up in strict accordance with my aunt’s ideas of proper maidenly reserve, I was liable, I confess, to be carried away by that vortex into which I was so suddenly pl Vain of the admiration I excited, the fascination of a! myriad temptations might have still further enthralled me in the gulf to which I was hastening; but you, like a kind and gentle guardian, came to snatch me from its dangerous depths. You taught me the real value of that tinsel homage of which I had beer so proud; you it was who first enabled me to distinguish the difference between the false and the true; and can it be wondered that, with so excellent a monitor will-, ing to instruct me, I found acquaintance ripen into, Gomichoo m <Si-GO