The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE COURT OF LONDON blush of shame was now upon her cheeks, and her bosom was convulsed with sobs. “ T scarcely think you comprehend the purport of your own words, Miss Owen,’ said Loftus, emphatically; “‘ and I hope to God that you do not. Very, very painful would it be for me to imagine — ”’ ‘Oh,’ she exclaimed, in another paroxysm of frenzied exaltation, “‘ you must imagine the truth, and of that truth I am not ashamed. For you have filled my heart with a passion which is consuming me; and all my happiness, my very life, indeed, is staked upon the hope of appeasing it. Revile, scorn, loath, abhor me as you will, denounce me as unmaidenly, proscribe me as a disgrace to my sex, but still you cannot alter the condition of my heart. And surely when a fond, a loving, and a devoted woman offers to aban- don herself to you. not only as a proof of that illimitable worship, that frenzied adoration, but also that she herself may have the recollection of that hour of love and bliss to compensate her for the loss of thee thereafter and enable her to sustain the weight of the future years of her existence, - surely, I say, you will not spurn her altogether! ”’ Thus speaking, Emma fixed her fond and earnest regards in profound entreaty upon Jocelyn Loftus, who, shocked at the dreadful depravity which was enveloped in suénh softly insidious language, could not prevent his looks from be- traying the disgust that filled his soul. “Take my arm, madam,” he said, in a stern and imperi- ous tone, as he rose from the bench. “ It is time we should hasten homeward.”’ “No, I will not move until I have your response,” ex- claimed Emma, passionately. | “Then hear it, whatever be the consequences,’’ rejoined Loftus. ‘‘ Your wiles, your arts, your fascinations are wasted upon me. I would sooner perish than prove untaith- ful to her who possesses my love. Come, Miss Owen, I insist upon our immediate departure hence.’ Humiliated, baffled, disappointed, and almost crushed with the overpowering sense of shame, Emma saw that her seductive arts were indeed thrown away upon this well- principled young man; and mechanically taking his arm, she suffered him to lead her from the secluded avenue where the extraordinary scene just recorded had taken place. CONNIE KS, (EC)