Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

228 REYNOLDS’ WORKS experienced such emotions. He seemed to be in the midst of paradise, but overcome by the intoxicating influence of its fragrance and its beauties. His brain swam around; the delirium was wild and whirling, but delicious beyond all power of description. Elizabeth comprehended the ecstasy which her adorer’s heart experienced, and it was an augmen- tation of her own happiness to feel that she had been the source of such ineffable delight. “Ts it possible — is 1t indeed possible? ”’ said the Spaniard, his feelings at length breaking the seal which an overpower- ing bliss had placed upon his lips. ‘Is it a reality? Or is it a dream? Oh, it is a Joyous reality, it is an ecstatic truth, and at this moment the world contains not a being happier than I. Captivity is now recompensed: anxiety, care, suspense, and suffering, — all are amply rewarded. Dearest, dearest Elizabeth, it 1s the devotion of all the rest of my life that you have this day ensured unto yourself.” ‘My dear Diego,” she said, ‘‘ tranquillize your emotions, let us speak deliberately, for I have much to tell you. Give me your arm, and we will walk here awhile together. I am about to deal frankly and candidly with you; I am about to unfold some circumstances of my life upon which I can only look back with sorrow and regret. But at once under- stand me — ”’ “T do already understand you, dearest Elizabeth,” he interjected, ‘‘ for your friend Miss Marshall spoke enthusias- tically of the stainless purity of your character as a woman.”’ ‘And did she tell you no more?” asked Elizabeth, ina tremulous voice. ‘‘ She told me that although you had for some years passed by the name of Mrs. Chandos, yet you might confidently and truly proclaim yourself to be unmarried. Ah! your friend, Miss Marshall, took compassion on my suspense, she sym- pathized with me in my anxiety to learn all those particulars concerning you, so deeply, deeply interesting to myself.”’ ‘“ But there is now a revelation,” interrupted Elizabeth, ‘““ which it behoves me to make without delay. Diego,’ she continued, looking him full in the face, and yet with a deep blush upon her cheeks and _ the glitter of uneasiness in her eyes, ‘‘ what would you think of me if I were to confess that what you have been in Catalonia, have I been in England? ” ‘Oh, no more of this, my worshipped and adored Eliz- Gomichoo cS (E(0)