The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

— 2 he EE A ee EB a i a RET: 1 EI i ed ET aS HE - 1923 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. E=— « ~ ey aueke gH See wee “[ can assure you-QOh! I can assure you most positively,” said Emma, again catching his arm 4s if by an involuntary impulse, and looking up iato hie face with an expression of frightened, depre- cating, piteous entreaty,—" that we will obey you to the very letter! Do not—do not mistrust as alto- gether. Everything that we can do now by way of ,atonement for the past, shall be done!” “Yes, Emma,” exclaimed Agatha: “plead our cause with Baron Bergani! J am at a loss for words to express all I feel: but you have greater forntude than I. Come, Julia, let us leave Emma as‘our advocate !" Thus speaking, the eldest sister turned abruptly away, accumpanied by Julia; and speeding along the shore, without once looking back, they thus retraced their steps towards the jetty. " So suddenly was this manauvre accomplished, that Bergami, though naturally cool and self. pos- grassed, was taken completely aback, aud he could not utter a word: but a most sstantaneously pene- trating the stratagem, he allowed it to take its course—thus appearing to fall a dupe to the pre- tence adopted for the purpose of leaving Emma alone iu his company. “Now, what have you to say to me?” he at length asked, turniny his looks upon Emma. “Oh! what can I say to you?” she exclaimed, joining her hands together and gazing up into his countenance with every appearance of the most impassioned appeal. “I would beseech you—I would implore you to have mercy upon myself and my two sisters! But, Ah! I feel faint—the ex- ciiement I have endured has been too much-— permit me to lean upou your arm—-only for a | few moments, till we reach that knot of trees—— There!———Thanks, thanks, Baron Bergami—I see that after all you do not so utterly loathe, hate, ; and despise me——QOh! untortuvate being that 1 am, to be compelled to give utterance to such words as these!” Aud she sank, with every appearance of ex- haustion, at the foot of a group of trees, to which Bergami had hurried her as she clung to his arm, and the shade of which now concealed them both froin the observat‘'ln of any one who might be walking within eyo-shot of the place. ; “Pray sit down by my side—humour me thus fay——grant me this litule fayour,’”’ murmured Emma, seeming as if she were about to faint: “for I wish to speak to vou seriously—muost seriously—ard |. must rest here for @ few minutes.” Beryami made no hesitation m yielding to her request; and this realy complaisance on his part e wboldened the artful young woman<to an extent that she flattered herself the influence of her spells ' was beginning to work. “Qh! if it were not fur this delicious breeze | respond to them, it is because 1 was fearful lestmy which comes from the lake, J should faint,” she | vanity should have led me to construe into love Pee Ge: STE ame said, as Bergami seated himeelf on the bank ata | dista.-ce ‘uf perhaps three feet (rom where she was . halt reelining, © Is not this breeze beautiful ?”— - ‘is there hope'that I am not altogether indifferent serene around, the humdn heart cannot imbibe a kindred inspiration from this soft tranquillity. The glory of the descending sun‘is upon the waters: its beams appear to penetrate, like shafts of living light, down into the very depths of that sleeping eca! How is it that the lustre of that same hea- venly orb cannof fathom the profundities ef the human soul ?” “Oh! how delicious is it to hear you speak | thus,” said Emma, in accents that were soft and ma- | sically tremulous. ‘“ You do not now seem tobe : aogry with me—you do not now appear as if rancorous feclings were agitating within you—- Ah! is it possiple that you have comprehended that emotion which for some time past I have experignced towards you? f such be indeed the case, then shall I conceive myself blessed with a happiness which on account of my misdeeds is so utterly undeserved! Ah! you do not chide me— you do not bid me hold my pence? Then indeed to you. Oh! an idea suddenly strikes me,” she cried, with no affectation of s suddenly enhancing excitement: for the thought did that moment flash to her brain. “The mercy you are disposed to show us is dictated by a generous pity—dare I say a tender compassion for me ?” She paused for a reply: but Bergami, instead of giving one, bowed his face upon his hands and appeared td plunge into deep thought. “Oh! I have guessed the troth,” exclaimed Emma, her tones becoming now almoat exultent as she felt within herself the assurance that the magic of her charms was working its effect upon the Pruasian officer. ‘“ Now, then, shall I confess frankly and candidly that I love you! Yes, noble Bergami—from the first moment Lact eyes upon you, have I been smitten by your handsome person —your engaging mannere—~your fascinating dis- courses and latterly I ave not been able to conceal from you this Jove of mine, bat bave sought on . many occasions to convey an intimation of its ex- | istence to your comprehension. Think you it was | by mere accident that I have heen eo frequently | placed next to you at the dinner-table—or that when | walking abroad, I have found myself by your | | eee a ee - ie — —— A rer A J ca RT a RA — side——-Ah! nos it was all intentional on my part—those little ways, and meaus, and artifices by which a woman makea known her love !” “and if I were to give you the assurance of Jove in return,” asked Bergami, slowiy ra sing his head and turning his eyes ful upon the young lady's countenance, which was now beaming with mingled hope, passion, and triumph,—“ if I were to coutess to you that [ have not been indifferent to | your charms—that I have seen and understood your little wi'es—and that if 1 have been slow te the merdst tokens of friendship,—if I were to tell you ail this, Euima, would yu give me any proof of love in return? would you convince me that aud as if with quite a mechanical aod uncon<cious | your's is indeed a sincere, a genuine affection, and mutement, she threw back Jer scarf and opzued the front of her dress ia such a maguer as to dis- play her busom. “Yea,” said the Biron, not appearing to not:ce the manosuvre, but keeping his eyes bent down- ward: “it ts indeed a beauteous eveniog—aad distyessing is it to think that while nature is 50 a a ” ae S96 ee ee es ee Pe 2-92 eee EO ee not a passing phuntasy and evanescent whim ?” “«) heavens! is it true—is it possible -that I hear you talhing tho. ?” cried E:nma, burried away by the rapturee of exultation and anorous passion which were now utterly past control: and seizing Bergami's hand, she pressed it first to her lips and, then to her heaving bosom, Cy CO ECOMNIE OG cS)