Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY OF 8ST. MARK’S ABBEY. 107 zo matter;—-let me not be too premature in-—— maides, bhéed me not ;— I was bat looking back through the long vista of time, and it. breught back recollections that .were accompanied with many a pang.—You do sot fear me, Angelina;” he continued, in a softened tent, “‘ I am a mysterious being, ai .least my.cosdact may appear so,-—but yet, believe me, thou dost not pessoas a dearer; or more faithful friend than wild Kate of the Ruins.” “ Your sondact is. indeed to me mysterious,” answered our heraine, *‘ you seem to take so deep an interest in my fate, and yet till lately, I ncver beheld you, and even now we are almost strangers to one another.” ‘¢Thou art no stranger to me, maiden,” said Kate, emphatically, “ and so time will preves; the pesiod when concesiment will be no longer neces sary, has not yet arrived ;—the secret must net yet be. divulged.” * What secret ?” eagerby inquired Angelina; ‘‘ what secret can you he ace guainted with, which is consected with me ?” ‘“¢ Ask me not,” said Kate, *“‘for awhile it must be. locked within my own breast, but the time will come, when that shall be divulged, which will strike herror inte the minds of -some, and astonishment te others,” Here ‘Kate once more relapsed into silence, and seemed to be ruminating upon semething of the most painful interest. Angelina continued to louk wpon her for.come moments with surprise, then takiag coumge. observed :— ‘<. Surely i¢ must have. been some heavy sorrow, some “‘ terrible affliction, which could tempt you to take to this wild and singular life, and to seclude yourself in this manner from the world?” ‘‘ The world !”® repeated Kale, with a biter smile, name it not, it is dis- gusting to me !—The world and I have long been divided ;—I think upon it with the same shuddering horror, as the wretched sinnér anticipates the tor- ments of perdition. The world !—It is a hell ;—treachery lurks in every street ;—and—— but it is enough that I have experienced sufficient to make me hate it; as for the rest, it is a secret which must be confined to my own breast.—Come, child,—it waxes late; retire to rest;—I will remain whery I am, my busy thoughts will keep me fully employed til) the morning dawns.” Angelina hesitated, and looked rnund the gothic apartment. ‘¢ Nay, girl, why do you pause 2” interrogated Kate, angrily, “‘ do, you doubt me ?”” ‘< Oh, no, you wrong me by such a supposition,” said our heroine, eagerly ; 4‘ 3 mast iadeed be ungenervus to doubt one, who-has already ao often proved herself to be my friend.”’ ‘s Enough, enoagh,’’ said Kate, affectionately, and embracing her, ‘* the pallid hee of fatigue is on your cheek; retire, my child, and Kate will watch over your slumbers with all a mother's care; no harm can visit you here, while i am present.” Angelina obeyed. Kate stirred the fire into a cheerful blaze, then taking her seat in one corner of the fire-place, she placed her elbows on her knees, rested her chin on her hands, and became buried in deep rumination. Our heroine watched hee for several minutes, until cempletely worn out with the unusual exertion she had undergone, sleep pressed heavy upon her eyelids, and she soon became vaconscious of all around. She had not, however, slept long, when she was awakened, by feeling the warm pressuse of some person’s lips upon her cheek, and opening her COL @ OO SS (CO)