The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

EARL AND COUNTESS OF DESBOROUGH 388 sank upon his shoulder; he felt her bosom throbbing against his arm like the swell and reflux of a mighty tide, and her tears rained down upon his vesture. But this evidence of a warm and generous disposition on her part only rendered his remorse the more poignant, crushing his very soul as beneath the weight of centuries; for more vividly than ever was forced upon his mind the conviction that his selfishness or his sophistry had demanded and obtained the sacrifice of a lovely woman, animated with all the ecstatic fires of youth, sensitive to the seductions of an ardent temperament, and yet able from a sense of duty to subdue the longings of her impassioned nature and the cravings of her glowing imagination. Thus, while his heart cherished a very paradise of love for this adorable being, his brain was convulsed with ever- recurring paroxysms of sorrow and remorse; and while the new-born tenderness which she now manifested toward him thrilled in transport through his veins, he shuddered because he feared lest it should have kindled suddenly only to expire rapidly. “ Francis, my good, kind husband,’’ murmured the soft, melting voice of the countess in his ear, “ will you not be- lieve me when I assure you that our conversation of this day has changed me altogether? Will you not suffer yourself to hope that I can henceforth behave to you in a manner which may become at least a slight atonement for the past? I am well aware that I have made these promises before, that your language has on many, many occasions melted me into a softness which has led to similar vows and pledges. But never was the impression so deep as it 1s now, never did I comprehend your character so fully as I can read it at present.’’ “T could fall on my knees and worship you for these assurances, Eleanor!’’ exclaimed the earl, yielding to the tide of delight on which his soul was now borne along. ‘“‘ Oh, then the flowers of my fancy are not dead, and the hopes which I had formed may yet be realized. You will love me as if I were a dear parent, a brother, or a friend; and I shall continue to worship you as my goddess, as the idol of my devotion.”’ | And, drawing her upon his breast, the earl imprinted kisses on her brow, her cheeks, and her lips; but those kisses CONnnicloool Ks CO