The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

236 THE COURT OF LONDON proclaiming the honest convictions of her candid and un- suspecting soul. ‘And therefore, dear Pauline,” said Octavia, into whose bosom the full tide of confidence, truthfulness, and joy was rapidly transfusing from that of her sister, — ‘‘ and there- fore do I not regret having given my love to him. But I was unhappy, my heart was weighed down, my spirits were depressed, because I feared lest I should become an object of scorn and shame in the eyes of her whom I love and who is sO generous and so kind toward me.” ‘““ No, never, never! ’”’ exclaimed Pauline, and again the sisters embraced fondly. ‘Is not this singular,’ said the younger maiden, after a short pause, ‘‘ that we should both experience love’s passion almost at the same time? For I also love, Octavia,’’ she added, looking down and with blushes suffusing her cheeks; ‘‘ yes, I have suddenly learned to love that handsomé young nobleman who brought you home.” ‘‘ He told me somewhat of your singular interview, but I was too bewildered to comprehend his words in their full sense,’ observed Octavia. ‘I, however, understood enough to know that he sought you in the first instance with an evil intent, and that your virtue subdued him and excited an honourable passion in his soul.” “Such was the case,’’ answered Pauline. ‘“ I will make you acquainted with all the details when we have more leisure to converse together,’ she added, secretly pleased to evade the subject; for the reminiscences of the past night brought the burning blushes to her cheeks, innocent in her virgin purity as she still was. ‘‘ We must now descend to the breakfast-table; our father will doubtless soon leave his room. And remember, Octavia, should he remark upon his late arrival, remember, I say, that he believed us to have retired to rest hours before; for, when he knocked at the door, I hurried up-stairs from the back parlour, where I was seated with Lord Florimel, so that I might show a hght in the bedroom ere I descended to open the door. I likewise put on my cloak, that he might believe I had hastily risen and had thrown on a few clothes for that purpose.” It was strongly repulsive to Pauline’s feelings to utter these little falsehoods in order to impart such a colouring to the incidents that her sister might not suspect Lord ECORNIE OOO KS (Eo) m