The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

a a a amen a a a pe i ee a ee ’ a . . . = SS ee ele ees SE _— = —_— —r eno Tee: Wilma eam antnecuin dered eo es need cha, 90 = & aim THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT was o Georgian ; and hence the comparative fair- {was so well calculated to make—even though 1t ness of your complexion. But we must not argue longer on the subject. You now understand me, Indura, much better perhaps than ever you did before; and I on the other hand am willing to believe that you yourself regret that portion your conduct which must he but tvo wall ¢ lated to inspire such remorseful feeling. Thote I appeal to your generosity—I appeal to thant f oh nine delicacy which characterizes you--I appeal to all those good and virtuous principles which have vendored your life so stainless,—-by all these J appeal that you will aceept my decision As @ final one-——-and this decision is, that we part now to meet no niore {” — The Pritcess Indora pressed her hand to her brow; dsid @ faint halt-stifled shriok burst from her fifa, The next moniont, in a patoxyem of in- deac Ay igony,, ibe threw herself upon her knesa{ atid extending her clasped hands towards Redeliffe, oried in a frantio voice, “You are killing me | Pits are killing me!” nas “Sor heaven's saka give pot ihug way to your feelings !"—and he hastened to raiso her ah It seomed as if sho were about to faint: she clung to bim-—and her head drooped upon his breast, Ho was forced to sustain Ker: but he gently placed her upon the ottoman—and stand- ing be ore her, be paid, “ Indora, if you ever loved mé, I beseech you to fulfil yeur promise and respect my. decisiun, !”’ She had for a rhoment covered her countenance with her bands; and her entitoe form was shakon with a fow convulsive ach. Slowly now she re- moved those hands; and Jogking up towards the Englishman with such incffablo woe depicted upon her features that it made hie very heart bleed to coptemplate the spectacle, sho said in the profuund voice of despair, “ Yes—1I will respect your do- Cision.” . . a Clement Redcliffe was nbout to extend his hand and bid the Princess a last farewell,—when a thought struck him end he lingered: but stall be iknew not how to shapfié the request which he Jigd ti / to make-—for a requéeg waa, , * Tndora,” at length be said “T wil ndt ssl if itis With wo feeling of anger you are about to be- hold me go forth from your presence —because I know that from all you have been saying, you are nu longer capable of experiencing the alifhtest vindictiveness towards me.” “No, Clement Redcliffe,” shea answered so- leinuly, but at the same time with a visible effort keeping back an ebuilition of the styongest fecl- mgs’ “rather than do you an injury, I would Iny down my life to serve you The Hnglishman was profoundly touched by this ataurance. The reader has seen enough of him to be aware that he was naturally generous- hearted -indeed of a fine chivalrous charadter, netwith- dtanding that ao large a portion of his life had been apent in captivity, and that this elrcumstance, as well as othors,; had tended to aour hid mind and warp sume of hia better feelings. Yes-—be wus | @enerous-bearted; and the assurance which the , Unlortundte Pripcedé bad juat given, could not fail to touch him frofouadly. Besides, he would have been something less or sonfhing mote than man if he had remained altogether inaccessible to the impression which that fotld #oman'sdevotedlove 7 _— = — were a love which he himself could not reciprocate. It therefore cut him to the very soul—it made his heart bleed—it awakened sensibilities which he tdiiber—it staggered the very resolve which had Gfe,siow gone forth from his lips! . He resumed his seat on the sofa—perhaps 4 it le nearer to the Princess than he was placed ing all the former part of the interview ; and p followed him with her efdés} in which some faint gleam of hope flittered again— it gat so feebly, because she dared not allow herself to enter- tain it. “Indora,” suddenly exclaimed Redcliffe, with almost passionate vehemence—and spcis a parox pm . his Part,-—— of feeling was indeed most rare pn “it is impossible I can leave you thus! I regret having said anything that er 7 to savour of reproach: I am sorry that I should have awelt so long and so emphatically oh yo if sonduct in prolonging my captivity in India. dy peavens | you were aware of all the mischief wh ¢ thus entailed upon me——and you, , oF part" comprehend it, from those words wh f le drop on the memorable occasion when I aa at your feot by the sido of the marble foist&in fp the palace of Inderabad——Oh ! if ygti Knew all you would pardon any bitterness that tinctured my “It would be impossible, Clemént,’ answer the Princess mildly-—almost medkly, “for you fo fire me offence. My unfortunate love has tans y disposition: I no longer think gnd feel wj i the pride of a King's, daughter—but with th humility and the suffering of a poor we woman !” _ rae _ “ Fleavens!”” ejaculated Redcliffo, visibly strug- fihg with higpaelf ad the resolve which he had ronounced was toore and more -taggered by each supcessive roof of Indora’s unmitable devotion : “ How can I endure to torture you, while you dis- p A s0 uch goodness P” . Mé rose and paced the apartment with hurried and uheven steps. That man whose wont it was to € so mournfully grave and so coldly reserved — so shut up, as it wore, in the secret sorrows of his own insorufable heart—was now a prey to the profoundest agitation. Indora followed him with her eyes: that very agitation afflicted her on the one hand, while it partially seemed to encourgge hope on the other; and the tears again streamed 4own her cheeks —again trickled upon the gorgeous bust which the open caftan and the low under- carment left half-reveuled. ° “Indora,” said Redcliffe, abruptly resyming bis seat by her side, “1 cannot leave gou thus—my very nature revolts against it! _ And yet for heaven's sake buoy not up yourself with immedi ute hope: fur that coukl not pessibly be fuiblled at once No, aternly and implecably should [ retuee, even though you were at tuis moment at the point of death ard an alficmative syilable from my hpa euuld alune save you! But yet——” He stopped short: and it wae with breathless suspense — with fixed cyets— dilated nostrils ~ lips apart—head bunt forward—and bosom upheaved, that Indora sat fp the aftitude of one who awaita a sound which she expects to hear but which she is afraid may cecape her. (C kad fancied crushed, or at least buried in eternal at hs ree, & NOG SS