Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

176 THE COURT OF LONDON and when Florimel beheld her lovely form set off in all its fine contours by the corset that rather took its shape from those charms than gave any symmetrical improvement to them, his passion was inflamed almost beyond the power of control. Burning desire struggling with a consciousness of the paramount necessity of prudence, an intense fervour raging in spite of the certainty that any abrupt declaration of his sex would ruin his project, an ardent longing to throw himself at her feet, proclaim his love, and implore her to have pity upon him, — such was the turmoil of emotions that now agitated within the breast of Lord Florimel. Placing herself before the glass, and having her back turned toward him, Pauline began to arrange her hair for the night. Having unloosed the shining masses, which now flowed in silken waves over her naked shoulders, she combed out that luxuriant covering which might have been envied by the proudest empress that ever wore a diadem upon her brow. ‘““My sweet Pauline,’ said Florimel, impatient to give their conversation such a turn that he might gradually pre- pare the maiden’s mind, as it were, for the dénouement of this adventure, ‘“‘ is it not strange that we should have ex- perienced precisely the same views and the same thoughts relative to the necessity of a sincere and tender friendship in order to complete our happiness? ”’ “Tt proves that our dispositions are congenial, and that there exists a strong sympathy bebwern us, Gabrielle,” returned Pauline. ‘And yet perhaps the ideas and reflections of one of us have been more developed by circumstances than those of the other,’ observed Florimel. ‘TI do not understand you, my sweet friend,’ said Pauline, who was still occupied in combing out her beautiful hair before the glass. ‘“T alluded to myself,’’ continued the young nobleman, heaving a profound sigh. fs Ah! you appear to be unhappy! ”’ exclaimed Pauline: ‘and now I remember that when we first came up-stairs something was annoying you. Have you anything preying upon your mind? Ii so, it were wrong to keep it a secret from me, after the vows of friendship which we have ex- changed.”’ Eomichbooks