Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

A NIGHT AT THE VILLA 193 feelings and emotions during the last few hours that she received therefrom many rapidly acquired teachings in the school of experience, and from the same source had drawn an inspiration enabling her to read the more profoundly into the true character and disposition of her noble com- panion, — ‘‘ let me be candid with you, Lord Florimel,” she said. ‘‘ A veil has fallen from my eyes, a light has dawned in upon my soul, and I already see many things differently from the view I had been accustomed to take of them. I can even understand how love may lead to error, and I pity rather than blame my unfortunate sister. Oh, yes, I feel how weak is woman, and how strong are the temptations which she has to resist. Nay, I have this night experienced those sensations which prove to me beyond all doubt that I likewise am weak, and that there have been moments during our interview when I was standing upon the verge of a precipice. But the sense of that very weakness, Lord Florimel, shall henceforth con- stitute my strength. A full and perfect comprehension of the dangers which beset my path shall supply a rigid and unvarying prudence for any lack of strictly virtuous prin- ciples within me. Learn, then, that if your lordship should renew those honourable proposals which you ere now made, I feel that I can love you — ay, and devotedly; but if your lordship should dare to utter a word or make a gesture calculated to insult me, I will that moment seek refuge with my father, throw myself at his feet, confess all that has occurred, and leave him to punish you.” It is scarcely possible to convey an adequate idea of the effect produced on the young nobleman by this long, im- pressive, and dignified address. Here was a lovely virgin, of tender age, proclaiming her own weakness, acknowledging her own deficiency in that deeply rooted principle of female virtue which a mother’s delicate teachings and familiar inculeations can alone implant in the bosom of girlhood, and yet boldly assuring her lover, into whose treacherous designs she had fully penetrated, that the very sense of her own liability to fall should be converted by her strength - of mind into a fortalice of defence! | Again was his soul stricken with remorse, again did a feeling of fervent admiration spring up within him, and again did a chivalrous enthusiasm take possession of him COnnicloookkS (C©)