Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

158 3 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. piano; but glancing at the clock I started up, as affrighted as Cinderella when the enchanted hour was striking. ‘IT must go,” I exclaimed. ‘Out to-night?” said Isolina; “‘ oh, need you goto-night? Take a double gallop to-morrow when Ernest is not here.” ‘«« Sister,” I muttered, almost tragically, ‘‘ let me go.” ‘«But you are weary with walking so long on the beach this afternoon. Dear Ivanilla, I am sure you should not go out to-night. If Dr. Graves saw you how he would make you lie down.” I stood the picture of dumb obstinacy, gazing from face to face. ‘““You are determined to go?” said Ernest, in a low voice. “Must!” I whispered. “©Will you walk? It would be half an hour before the horses were ready.”’ ‘© Yes, yes; I will walk.” ‘¢A walk in the cool sea-breeze may do her good,” said Ernest, turning quietly to Isolina. <‘‘I think with you, that riding is too violent an exercise after her fatigue—she shall walk with me.” I darted from the room and flung on my hat and scarf, and casting one fond, remorseful look on Isolina’s wistful face, | turned away from the door, my escort by my side. I led my lover the shortest way over the sands to Rane- lagh Village; the tide had crawled in and was full; I did not care;in my blind hurry I scrambled over rocks and clung to crumbling banks, which, were this not the charmed hour, would have been impassable barriers to me. Ernest followed, sometimes catching me back froma whirling wave. sometimes swinging me over the slippery rocks. Conversa- tion under such circumstances was impossible. At last we reached the road which led straight into the village, and, panting with our wild scramble, I was glad to lean on my companion’s arm. ‘Now, tell me what all this means,” said Mr. Lindhurst. “All what? Hist! I hear the shriek of the coming rain.” “You cannot walk so fast. I feel your heart like a sledge-hammer against my arm. Ivanilla, what is this ex- citement for?” “Hush! They are coming round the curye of the hill— Gomicbooks.com