Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

124 ANGELINA? OR, were sufficient, if his words had not been, to convince her that despair was at hand to darken all those bright hopes, she would not many minutes before have ventured to indulge in. The time which elapsed during the interview between her Jover and her uncle, seemed an age to her, and her sus- pense was almost insupporiable? Yet did she dread to hear the footsteps of the latter, for she expected he would summon her into his presence, and she trembled at the thoughts of the lecture he would probably read her. But in this idea she was agreeably disappointed, Mr. Woodfield did not offer to dis- turb her, and after listening for hours to the exhortations of the affectionate Laura, she became considerably more composed, and retired to rest, where her busy imagination recalled in dreams the image of her love, and every word to which he had given utteranee. In the morning, Laura arose before her cousin, and the latter, on descend- ing the small flight of stairs which led into the parlour, in which they always took their meats, timid, and dreading to meet her uncle, asif she had been committing some heinous crime, she paused at the door, which was partially open, to enable herself time tu compose her agilation, when the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Woodfield, speaking in loud tones, excited her curiosity, and she could not help pausing tv listen. They were seated at the further end of the room, and their backs were towards her. Laura was buasying her- self at the breakfast table, and did not appear to take any notice of what they were conversing about. ‘It is cruel,’’ observed Mrs. Woodfield, reproach- fully, ‘it is very cruel thus to blight the hopes of the peor girl, (who I know really loves him,) and those of Hugh Clifford, who, in spite ef his being a smuggler, 1 am certain isa worthy youth, and would make her a good husband. He bas inoney, and as you say be has offered to abandon his present calling, what, in the name of all that is wondesful, can be your objection to——” ‘ Dame, I tell you now, as I have often told you befoie,” interrupted Mr. Woodfield, “ that I cannot countenance the affection of any one for Angelina. Did not circumstances, which it behoves me not to divulge at present, form an insurmountable barrier to their union, even during the short time I have known him, and notwithstanding the peculiar circumstances in which he is placed, I confess that there is not a man to whom I would sooner give the hand of my niece than this same Hugh Cliford—I am much deceived if he does not possess a noble, a generous, and a virtuous beart.”’ ‘Ah! that J am sure he dges,” returncd Mrs. Woodfield, warmly—have we not had sufficient proof of that ?—Has he not twice saved the life of her he loves, and who then possesses a greater claim upon her hand aud heart than he does P*’ , ‘* That is all very true, Dame,” replied her husband ;—‘“‘ I respect the young man’s virtues, and esteem his friendship, but as to his marrying Angelina, I can never give my consent.” ‘*Why, goodness me, Arthur!” ejaculated the old woman, °* how strangely you talk; who but you can consent to their nuptials? Are you not the only protector Angelina bas in the world, and who can question your conduct 2?” “* Of that I am not certain,” said Mr. Woodfield, in an ambiguous manner; —‘‘but enough of this—I1 like not the subject, as [ have often told you; my mind is made up, and ence for all.I say, that for the present, T capnot—I will not ever give my consent to the union of Angelina, ECOMmicoOokKs @ (CO)