The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

See, ee Ce 308 from the idea of allying her fate with that of tho humble and obscuro artist from Italy—then be it so: but let there be candour in your speech! I givo you back your vows—I give you back your pledges: and yet vineicated and innocent as 1 now stand beforo you, I have a right to claim them if I would. But no. More generous than you, Florina—more ready, too, to make any or every sacrifice for your sake—I will insist up6n nothing that shall menace your happiness. No:”’— and here his voice trembled—he murmured a fow words which were inaudible, suffocated as they wero by the strength of this emotions—and he was hurry- ing abruptly away. “Mr. Dovoril’” explaimed . Florina, suddenly wiping the tears from her eyos—fur she had beon ‘weeping while ho spoke: “‘we must not part thus. “You have becomo the accusor——But I also havo something to say in justification of myself,!” Deveril turned back; and with &n ir of melan- choly composure, in which there was a certain blend- ing of his own offended dignity, he stood in front of Flurinn ps she was seated upon the bench in the arbour. : ‘* Had Lady Saxondale’s story,” she resumed, sn & tremulous voice, “been the only cause of annoyance which I felt in respect to yoursclf, you would not have vainly sought an opportunity for explanation on that evening when you beheld me in the baloony of my aunt’s house. Indeed, to give you a proof of my anxiety to seek such explanation—at the same time too,” she added in accents more low and tre- mulous still, “to afford you a proofeot the sincerity of that affection which J had avowed for you~I took a step which the world would have deomed most unmaidenly, and for the imprudence of which I was indeed but too severely punished! In the evening of the same day on which Lady Saxondale brought her calumny to my aunt’s house, I stole forth, re- eolving to visit you at your own abode—to tell you sll that I had heard, and to beseech an explana- tion——” “Ah! you did this?” exclaimed Devoril, hope and joy suddenly lighting up his countenance. “Then you {uved mo—you really loved me? But wherefore did your not confe? why did you turn back? what preventod you from carrying out your generous intention? Oh, what miséry might have been spared tu me!” Florina gazed in astonishment upon the radiantly handsome countenance of William Deveri] as he commenced this speech: but as she recollected all. she héard and saw at his.dwelling on thet fatal night, she could not help again thinking that this was another evidence of his matchless effrontery— and sho felt pained and shocked at tife thought that it could be so. | “<T did not tyrn back 8n that occasion, Mr. Deve- ril,” she said in a cold calm voice. “I was not deterred by any circumstance, nor prevented by any “accident from repairing to your abode near the Regent's Park. I entered the garden—the front door stood open-~I heard what I will not repeat~ and iromediately after I saw what I will not alluda to more. “But it was all enough to convince me that while you were pretending that your heart was wholly mine——”’ “ Ah!” ejaculated Deveril, a light suddenly bronk- ing in upon him» “I understand it all!. Oh,— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COUNT. cruel and fatal mistake! Florina, yuu heard and saw——~” , “ Angee Vivaldi.” “My sister >? A cry of wild delight thrilled from Florina’s lips; and procipitating hersfif into Deveril’s arms, she sobbed upon his breast, murmuring, “ Pardon me— forgive me—dearest, dearest William !” ¢ a CHAPTER LXIV.. & « . WILLIAM DEVERIL'S HISTORY. Tix world has many delights—human feclings may expericnco many pleasures—tho hearts of carth’s denizens sometimes thrill with ineffablo raptures. But what joy—Oh f-what joy, can compare With that which attends upon the reconciliation of lovors ‘ When tho dark clouds of jealousy have gathered over the heaven of a young maiden’s prospects, how sweet—Oh! how sweet, is it for that gentle heart o! her’s to find them dispelled all in a moment, anc the sun of hope bursting forth go gild another day and illume auother state of boing. The world has no ocstacy suporiomto this. Such was the delight experienced by Lady Florinn Stauaton at that ‘announcement which, falling upon her ears like an angel-voice speaking to a soul in the depths of despair, clearod up the past mystery in a moment. And Deveril—was not ho also happy = Again and again did he press that being of tran- scendent beauty in his arms—he covered her brow. her cheeks, and her lips with kisses—then seatin:: hi:self upon the bench, he placed her by his side. and keeping both her hands locked in his own, he gazed upon her with the prolonged look of ineffabl: rapture. : Thus -did they sit tqrether,‘ gazing upon eact other in}rofound silence for t.any minutes. Their’s was & joy—deep, elysian, incfable—which appearcti almost too holy for the, interruption of words. But if their tongues were silent; most eloquently expres- sive were their looys: love shone in the deep cieur blue of Florine’s eyes and gloWwed upon the purity of her complexion ;—and love too beamed in the dark orbs and tinted the cheeks of that youth of manly beauty. Yes—the checks which illness hai left: 90 pale, were now animated with the bright colours in which lovo paints the reflection of tho heart's feelings; and porhaps that was the happiest moment of William Deveril’s lifc. . . “ How cruel—how unjust I have been to you, dearest William!” murmured Florina, at length breaking ‘iilence. “Oh, if on that day when I saw you from thie baloony at.my aunt’s house, I had only waited to. hear the explanation you so kindly and goncrously carne to give, what anguish—wha! misery might have been spared us both !”” “ Do not reproach yourself now, my beloved Fio- rina,” returned Meveril, pressing her hand to his lips: * tho happi10ss which I enjoy at this moment, is a recompensafor the past. “And Ido not blame you—not ‘or an instant do I blame you! Appear- ances were so much against me. But how could I : possibly have suspected that other incident which | ' has just been cleared up! Oh, it was indeed a proof of love on your part to seek me at my ow: idwelling” = ON COMIC SOOKS.COM