The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

THE RECONCILIATION bia graceful Gabriel burst into the room. The impulse which urged Pauline at the instant was entirely in his favour; the frank and ingenuous remark of Octavia had dispelled all hesitation on the side of the young maiden, and the lovers precipitated themselves into each other’s arms. ‘“Dearest, dearest Pauline,’ exclaimed Florimel; “ at leneth we meet again! ”’ “And the past is forgotten, Gabriel,’’ murmured the young lady, as she gave back the joyous and enraptured kisses which the nobleman imprinted upon her lips, her cheeks, and her brow. Octavia clasped her hands together fervently, and the tears ran down her cheeks; but it was through joy, through emotions of gladness at the spectacle of her sister’s happiness, and this was the first real gleam of sunshine that had dawned upon the soul of the unfortunate young lady since the dreadful day on which the full measure of the prince’s perfidy became known to her. When the first ebullition of feeling on the part of Florimel and Pauline was over, the nobleman paid his respects to Octavia, whom he treated with the affectionate interest and kind sympathy which a brother would devote to a cherished but afflicted sister. Then, seating himself by the side of Pauline, he took her hand, pressed it to his lips, and gazed long and tenderly upon her charming countenance. “Oh, my beloved,’ he whispered at length in her ear, ‘“‘there have been sad and dreadful misunderstandings be- tween us; but let them be all cleared up now, and then for- gotten for ever. They told me that you were married, that the account of your wedding was in the newspapers — ”’ “Who could possibly have deceived you thus, Gabriel? ”’ inquired Pauline, amazed at the announcement thus made her. ‘‘ A person who was interested in deluding and persecuting me, my angel,’’ answered the young nobleman; and as he still gazed on the lovely features of Pauline, he wondered how he could ever have been mad, base, and besotted enough to have dreamed of sacrificing the amiable virgin for the un- known woman of gallantry and pleasure. ‘‘ But tell me, my - charmer, tell me, my adored one, wherefore you so suddenly broke off everything between us? ”’ “Does not your own conscience answer the question, GOMmIiGdoOG SS) (S@)