Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

202 THE COURT OF LONDON of the young heart’s first affections are suddenly congealed at the moment that they seem to be gushing forth in their most cheerful brightness, and when the flood of fervid feeling that was wont to bear flowers upon its moving bosom becomes suddenly ice-bound and has naught but withered leaves sweeping with ominous rustle over its surface! Poor Caroline! thus was it with her; and yet she had only just entered her seventeenth year! The coach had proceeded for some distance without a word being exchanged on the part of its inmates, when suddenly a deep sob, which the young girl could not stifle, — hard though she tried to do so,— caught the ear of Mrs. Brace. “Do not be unhappy, dear Caroline,” said the lady. ‘ Acain I assure you that you will be well cared for at Mrs. Lindley’s, and I shall always be your friend. But is it possible that you love —”’ “Oh, do not mention his name, madam! ”’ cried the girl, suddenly becoming powerfully excited. ‘‘ It would drive me mad! I know not whether I love him, or hate him, whether I could kill him, or throw my arms about his neck and cover him with kisses. My God! I cannot comprehend the state of my own feelings with regard to him.” “You should study to forget him. Caroline,’ said Mrs. Brace, assuming a solemn and impressive manner. “That were impossible!’ exclaimed Miss Walters, with a vehemence not only strange in so young a creature, in- asmuch as it denoted a naturally fiery temperament, but also contrasting singularly with the subdued, docile, and retiring manner which had characterized her a short time before. ‘“ Impossible! ’’? repeated Mrs. Brace, in a tone of un- feigned surprise. ‘“‘ And wherefore, my love? ”’ ‘’ Because I must cherish his image either to make it an object of worship or an incitement to revenge,” answered Caroline, her voicc suddenly becoming gloomy and sullenly determined. : “You astonish, you alarm me!” eried Mrs. Brace. ‘“T never heard you talk in so wild a strain before. For heaven’s sake, compose yourself, Caroline, and give not way to such eccentric thoughts.” GOmMmicdooks (E(@) m