The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

o THE VIRGIN AND THE VOLUPTUARY 177 ‘‘ You shall possess.my entire confidence, dearest Pauline,’ said the disguised nobleman. ‘“ The first secret that I have to reveal to you is this—HI love! ”’ “And are you unhappy on that account? ”’ inquired the young maiden, in a tone of tender interest. “‘ But perhaps you are not loved in return? ” “T know not,’ responded Florimel, throwing a deep melancholy into his voice. ‘“‘ l hope — and yet I fear.” “ Doubtless the object of your affection 1s very hand- some? ”’ said Pauline. “ Not handsome — femininely beautiful — very beauti- ful! ’? exclaimed Florimel, with all the effusion of a worship. ‘“ But tell me, my dearest friend, have you yet known what it is to love? ”’ ‘““ Never,’ answered Pauline. ‘Then are you unacquainted with a source of the purest and most ineffable delight,” said the youthful voluptuary; ‘or I should rather describe it as a deliciousness of the feel- ings, a paradise of the emotions — ” “Wherefore, then, are you unhappy, Gabrielle?” in- quired the artless girl. “Oh, love is a pleasing pain, or a painful pleasure — {I know not how to describe it!’’ exclaimed Florimel. “‘ It is something that encourages the most heavenly hopes, throughout which there nevertheless runs an undercurrent of fears; and yet these fears are not exactly what you would describe as gloomy apprehensions. They are rather an exciting influence, seldom or never sinking into despond- ency. Thus, when I tell you that I am unhappy because I fear, I should likewise avow that I am happy because I hope; and such a strange, undefinable sentiment is love, that these contradictory feelings, these opposite sentiments, are experienced by the soul at one and the same time.” “Tis singular, most singular,’ observed Pauline, in a - musing tone; “‘ and yet I think that I can fully understand what love must be.”’ “Friendship often ripens into love,” said Florimel. “You can scarcely say often, my dear Gabrielle,’ re- turned Pauline; “‘ because it is very seldom that friendship ever subsists between a young lady and a young gentleman who are not related to each other.” “ Nevertheless, such is the case with regard to myself,” — ECORMICLOOOKS.C©