The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

—_ THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 144 ui . 273 v Jy) ! . NN a WN i a “And you, Mary} supremely beautiful! And now, dearest,” continued Mandéville, straining her to his breast, ‘‘ you know how deeply and de- votedly I love you—how sacredly I have vowed to prove your champion and friend in all difficul- ties " “T know it—I know it, Hippolyte!” she mur- mured. ‘* You have already given me such proofs of friendship —of love——” “ And you, Mary ?—you ?” _ “T haye not forgotten the pledge that I gave you,” she murmuringly re; ‘:ed’~ and now unasked did she offer her lips for his caresses. “You will be mine, Mary ?—mine?” he re- peated, intoxicated with passion and with exulta- tion. “T repeat, Hippolyte, I will fulGl my pledge. There is now nothing that you may ask me that I will not grant !” The beautiful Duchess was all agitation as she No. 55.—Ise Youna Ducuess. thus spoke: her cheeks were suffused with blushes —and hér heart was palpitating audibly... Mande- ville'strained her again and again in his arms,— until at length she,whisperingly reminded him that at any momen? some one might enter the apartment. But atender appointment was given ; and Mandeville took his temporary leave of the Duchess of Ardleigh. Half an hour afterwards she rang the bell, ordered the horses to be put to the travelling-car- riage, and set off for Thornbury. ~ It was eleven o'clock at night: the stars were shining—the heaven was clear—the atmosphere was fresh and pure—it was June's loveliest wea- ther—when the form of a man emerged from ‘amidst the verdure of the garden attached to the ducal country-seat, and drew near towards the mansion. Skirting the extremity of the building; this individual approached a small door so shaded by two large trees as to envelope the spot in the oO COMO —e, Colin