The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

THE SEAMSTRESS. cause he spoke kindly to me one day—you doubt- jess recollect when and where ?—and also because I deem him innocent.” “Innocent!” echoed the young nobleman, struck by the strangeness of the remark. ‘ Yes—innocent so far as the temporary loss of all power of self- control can constitute innocence: and therein I perfeetly and cordially agree with you. But that his hand struck the blow there is no doubt—there can be no doubt——” “We will not discuss the subject, Mr. Osmond,” interrupted the seamstress. ‘ Be pleased to recol- lect that my time is most precious to me—and if you will only act generously and suffer me to pursue my way alonu——” “No, no—I will not leave you yet—I swear I will not,” exclaimed the Marquis of Arden. ‘“ You must and shall hear me, Virginia;—and I therefore beseech you not to force me into what may seem a persecution——-But, Oh! it is impossible,” he cried, in a tone of vexation, “that you ean have tutored yourself to hate and abhor me. Tell me—tell me, Virginia—do you hate me?—do you repent of that moment when you suffered me to believe that you loved me——” “Oh! Mr. Osmond, you cannot have forgottea how cruelly the dream to which I had yielded for an instant, was interrupted!” murmured the seam- stress, far from unmoved by the evidences and assurances of affection which had greeted her ears and glided into her heart during the last few minutes. » Virginia,” said the Marquis of Arjen, in a low but impressive tone, “I shall not attempt to deny the intimacy which had for some short time subsisted between myself and Miss Barnet. But, iunocent and pure as you are, even you yourself, | Virginia, must be aware that young men are not altogether immaculate until they begin to love with a sincere, holy, and honourable affection. Such was my case. knew what love was. There is as much differ. ence between the sentiments which I entertain for you and those which I experienced towards | Before I saw you, I never | 61 place that afternoon—and to indulge in delicious hopes for the future ;—and it was not until some hours had elapsed, that I bethought me of sending a brief note to Miss Barnet, telling her that she need not expect me. In fine, I was already deter- mined to dissolve that connexion forthwith;—and now, L ask, whether my conduct deserves not to be viewed with a lenient eye?” * Yes—it is true—all true!’ murmured the seamstress, her heart palpitating with emotions of pleasure. * Ah! you know that I am telling you the truth, | then 2?” exclaimed Charles, joyfully. “Thank heaven! there is hope for me yet—and you do not hate me, Virginia—dear Virginia ?” * Hate you——Oh! no, no!” cried the maiden, ail the fondness of her soul reviving towards that handsome young man whose words she could scarcely hear and the ardour of whose looks she could scarcely encounter with impunity. “Then, if you do not hate me, you can perhaps love me?” asked the nobleman: and without wait- ing for a reply, he said ina graver tone, “ Now that we have met again, Virginia, [ am glad that we should have been temporarily separated on ac- count of a feeling of so much delicacy on your part. Yes—the course which you adopted on discovering the connexion between Miss Barnet and myself, is another and more striking proof of the innocence of your character—the propriety of your notions— the chaste rectitude of your own conduct. And let me assure you that after you fled so precipitately on that cecasion when our dream of bliss was so unfor- tunately broken in upon, Miss Barnet said enough to convince me that you were all I had believed you to be——-a model of virtue——” “Ah! she did me at least no iujustice then?” _ said Virginia, touched by what she supposed to be a good trait on the part of her late friend. * She did you every possible justice, Virginia,” returned the Marquis of Arden ;—“ and I feel more proud of you—I know that I can love you more devotedly—than if you were one of the titled or -nobly-born damsels who glitter ia the most brilliant Miss Barnet, as there is between the immortal soul spheres of society.” and the mortal tenement of clay which it inhabits | in this world. And now let me tell you something, which, could I prove it, would leave you no alterna- tive but to pardon me. Nevertheless, I hope that Virginia threw upon her handsome companion a look of mingled fondness and gratitude; and in his eyes she read all the fervour and sincerity of that love which he had proffered her. you will put faith in the statement which I ain | “Now, my dearest girl,” he continued, “I see about to make. Know, then, that in the morning | that you have pardoned me—that you have con- of the very day on which I rescued you from the | fidence i in me—and that you do not hate me. But feet of the plunging horses, F had written a note to | when will you be mine ?—when shall I lead you to inform Miss Barnet that I should see her in the | the altar ?—when shall I be blest by becoming your afternoon ; and I was on my way to her abode, when | husband, and acquiring the legal privilege of pro- the incident occurred which had so nearly proved tecting you?” fatal to you. All my thoughts—all my ideas—all; Virginia was now overwhelmed with confusion. my feelings then became absorbed in that meeting | She knew not what answer to give. On the one with you: and alter you had promised.to see me | hand her inclinations prompted her to leave every- again, | shrank witi an inward sense of loathing | thing to the persuasion, pleasure, and discretion of from the appointment which I had made with Miss | her lover: but on the other side, she felt all the im- Barnet. I already loved you—sincerely, tenderly | prudence, if not the impropriety of so hurriedly and loved you:—I purposed to make you an offer of my | so precipitately yielding to the enthusiastic ardour hand, as I had previously given you my heart ;—and | of a youth with whose character and position she I felt that I should be guilty of an act of flagrant | was so completely unacquainted. She therefore perfidy and even gross indelicacy towards you, | paused —she hesitated; while her heart fluttered ner- Virginia, were I to keep that appointment with a | vously as an affrighted bird in its cage. — mistress. I therefore returned home, to ponder! “You do not answer me, Virginia?” said the upon your image—to reflect upon all that had taken | young Marquis, in that luw tone of fondness which IOOK (SO)