The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

AG THE SEAMSTRESS. For Virginia had started resentfully as he gave utterance to those impassioned words: and then, the very next moment, she threw upon him a re- proachful and deprecatory glance, as much as to say, “Tt is ungenerous to take advantage of the immense obligation under which you have laid me.” “Pardon me, I implore you,” whispered Charles, full well comprehending the meaning of that elo- quent look. All this rapid interchange of words and varying excitement of feelings scarcely occupied a minute; at the expiration of which the chemist turned again towards Virginia and bade her swallow the mixture which he had just been compounding. She did so, and immediately afterwards rose from the chair in which her gallant young deliverer had placed her: but the chemist enjoined her to rest for a few mi- nutes longer—and the voice of professional autho- rity in which he spoke compelled her to obey. At this moment the policeman entered the shop with the band-box; and the Marquis of Arden instan- taneously presented him with a sovereign for his trouble. The officer expressed his thanks and withdrew ;— and when the eyes of Charles were again turned upon the seamstress, he saw that this generosity which he had shown on fer behalf, had deepened the blush of confusion upon her cheeks. He also felt confused: for he knew not what to say in order to relieve the sentiment of shame which the natural delicacy of Virginia’s mind experienced on behold- ing her deliverer thus display on her account a mu- nificence which she was not in a position to return. In the bewilderment of his own feelings he threw down another sovereign as a recompense to the chemist for the tropble occasioned ;—and taking up the band-box, he presented his arm to the maiden to conduct her out of the shop. Blushing and trembling with a confusion that threw all her ideas into a perfect chaos, Virginia mechanically took the proffered arm of the Mar- quis, whose name and rank were however still unknown to her: but scarcely had she thus obeyed the instinctive impulse of courtesy, when she per- ceived that her companion held the band-box in his hand. “ No, no!” she exclaimed suddenly: “1 could not think of submitting you to such a humiliation ;”’— and abandoning his arm, she snatched the band- box from him with the abruptness of a nervous excitement. * You will at least accept my arm and permit me to escort you in safety through the crowded streets P”’ said Charles, fixing upon her a look of deep and touching reproach. * You are overwhelming me with obligations,” murmured Virginia, as she once more laid her hand lightly upon his arm: for the thought suddenly flashed to her mind that in another moment the scene would wear a singularly ridiculous aspect in the eyes of the chemist. To put an end, therefore, to the extreme awkward- ness of her position in that respect, the young maiden accepted the escort of her deliverer, to whom she moreover entertained a natural sentiment of gratitude that forbade any discourteous abrupt- ness on her part. ‘Do you now experience any ill effect from the recent accident ?” inquired the Marquis, the moment they issued from the chemist’s shop—and the tone in which he spoke was respectful and tender. “ None, 1 thank you—that is to say, only a slight pain on the shoulder,” responded Virginia, her heart fluttering like a bird in its cage—for she was agitated with the most conflicting feelings,—an anxiety to separate from her deliverer, and yet a fear of seeming ungrateful to one whom she owed her safety, if not her life. ““Yes—the horse struck you upon the shoulder with his head as he was plunging violently,” said the Marquis. “ But I thank God it was no worse !” “My deepest gratitude is due to you, sir, for your generous succour,’ returned the maiden, trembling with embarrassment and perplexity, “That debt I can neyer pay you: but the money you expended on my behalf—that at least I must endeavour to return——” “Good God! can you think of such a thing >” exclaimed the young Marquis, in an impassioned tone: then, without giving the seamstress time to reply, even if she were able at the moment to find words for an answer, he said, “ You had every reason the other day to think ill of me: but I im- plore you not to imagine for a moment that I in- tended to offer you an iusult. Oh! you must per- mit me to explain my conduct on that head, even though the explanation itself should recall a look of resentment to your countenance. But I was so struck on that occasion by your appearance, that I was not the master of my own actions; and witha respectful admiration did I accost you——” “Oh! sir, you surely are unaware how painful this discourse must be to my feelings!” interrupted Virginia, in a tone of earnest appeal. ‘ You have behaved generously to me—most generously—most nobly: do not—do not mar the effect of such truly gallant conduct by addressing me in a language to which I can not—dare not listen.” “ But if I were to speak to you in the language of an honourable passion,” exclaimed the Marquis of Arden, enthusiastically, “would you not at least hear me with courteous attention and think seri- ously of my proposal ?” “Our stations in life, sir, are evidently so dif- ferent,” responded Virginia, in a tone of decision, “that I could not possibly flatter myself you were doing otherwise than paying me some passing com- pliment. And lest you should have misunderstood my character,’ she added, with a flush of virgin pride upon her soft cheeks, “I beg you to learn at once that such language is most distasteful to me.” “Tt is because L do understand your character, sweet girl,” said the young Marquis, “that Iam now addressing you in this manner.” “ My business lies in this direction, sir,” exclaimed the seamstress, suddenly abandoning the arm on which her hand had all the time reposed with a scarcely perceptible pressure. “ You will now per- mit me to thank you once more for your kindness, and to take my respectful leave of you.” The halt had occurred at the corner of Spring Gardens; and the young nobleman felt that he could not prudently insist upon accompanying the maiden any farther. “One word—one single word more,” he exclaimed, seizing her hand and pressing it warmly. “ You book (a) :