The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

THk MYSTHNIRS oF Pag dotrhr. went on to say, speaking tremtulsasly, “I should] We detisininate it actraordinary, bei be bitterly irritdted aghinst myself. Tell me—j reader teflect how seldom it is in pal: have I offended you P” whore a parent has from selfish or surdid Yi «Wo, my tord,” she answered, but in accents | fited upon h particular individual to becortie Beat ww“ 1 F e a. La tee’ oF et & e ‘ oe, i that were soardely audible—while the transient | in-law, the daughter's own heart has thy eee Zz glance which she threw upon the young noble- | time been acquiescing in the choioo. It wea mah, conveyed the firat revelation he had ever yet : obtained in reapect to the real feeling with which the young lady regarded him. ae “Then if & have not offended yot,” hé adtd; “TI may hdpe tht I am not altogether indifferent to youP Ihave no fortune, Migs Armytaye, to slay at your feet: but I have a loving und’ affec- ticnate heart to offer you. Will you acvepit it P’ | nine fecling, if we were to say that her heart flute, dnd he sank upon his knees before her. téeredl rot ab all. It did palpitate with a cote . Zoe, with het countenance atill averted, and ! siderable degree of suspense; but her emotiodd | with the colour still coming and going ?tapidly | betrayed themselves not outwardly with muoh upon her beauteous cheeks, made ho verbal answer | er seat, seid in a low | sition, as already stated, wag naturally calm—her, Wut clear voice, “ My lord, I must sow refer you | feelings sank deep down and bubbled up but little to my father Perhaps I ought to have done so | to the surface-+--and they wero the purer, the tivie in tho first instance,” she added more gently | genuine, and the more lasting on that very aé- still. e | count. ° Octavian had started up from his knees, smitten! She was not kept long in a state of uncertainty. with the apprehension that ho had been too bold | In about half-an-hour the door opened, sed Cata- in kissing the beautiful white hand which was vian hastened into her presence atain, his dountc- proffered him, and that the young lady was, nance beaming with rapture aud delight, nut offended : but he saw by her looks that it was hot ‘ uominglod with astonishment. Tho result of hia so. Her conduct Was merely that of maiden dig-i interview with Mr. Armytugs was thus at once nity and of filial obedience; so that all in a | proclaimed, evon before a single agilable fell frort gmoment she rose a thuusand times higher in his: his lips; and now Zoe no lotger withdrew her extitnation, if possible, thar she had proviously ; hand when he sought to retain it—nor did she ston] —~highly as he had esteeured her betore. | with a prudish affectation hold beak her couhtondnee “Wut I may tell Mr. Armytage,” he said,‘ from the kiss which her accepted lover imprinted gazing tendefly upon her, “that your consent is on her pure chaste forelioad. already obtained, if his be vouchsafed ?”’ Octavian might well be astonished ut the assent “Te would be on my part, my lord, a ridiculous | which he had received from Mr. Arrmytoge: for affectation,’ responded Zoe, in # voice that was | notwithstanding the reasoning of the Duke of tremulously clear; but yet she spoke with down- | Marchmunt, he had ecafcely anticipated that # east eyes and with a modest confusion bashfully | man whotn he knew tu be so worldly-minded as blending with her firrnness,—-“an affectation in- | Zoo’s father, would with o comparative readiness sulting, tov, to the minds of both of us, were I to | affurd his acquioseence to the suit of a ‘portionless declare that you aro an object of indifference to | lover. Rut then Mr. Armytage bad given an me. You have my consent, if you obtain my | affirmativ: response in that specious manner father’s. And think not, my lord, that I fail to! whieh ho was so proficiont in adopting. He had appreciate the honour which you confer upon me! thrown out a hint to the effect that he had never -—-the perhaps too flattering compliment which you‘ souzhf for his daughter an alliance with me pay mé——” ‘rank, but had hoped that sho would besome the “Zoe—dearest Zoe!” exclaimed Octavian, “never | wife of come individual more in her uwn sphere. did you seem more charming in my eyes! nevef| “However,” he had gone on to observe, * Zod was yout condtict more adutirtble than at this; is an only child; and I am too fondly devoted ty gaged it; and rising from | utoment! If your father will consent to our union, | her to thwart her happiness in a single respect, I wear that your heppincss shall henceforth prove | You say, my lord, that she loves you; and thore the study of my life!” fore you have my concurrence. All nty earthly aims Again he took her hand--again he pressed i to} are cunechtrated in the enstranes of my beloved ht? Hps—and “it wes not withdrawn—but then he| Zoe's folicity. Without conmidered guilty réteined it only for # single instant; and bending | of too much paternal pride, I tay eafely assert upon the lovely blushing girl a look of tenderness, | that 1 bestow upon you a Veritable treasure. Bes he issued from the room. The moment the door! that you treat her kindly, my Jord; show nid closed Beltied brim, ale had tigen wp,—jiutmuring to herself with a} declare to be your's: and I shall know how to eds pensation of hdély tap + He lover ~9! he loves! préss my gratitude.” . pin fF | Lord Octavian ninda suitable acks Yes—-Octavinn Mefedith had ail along beam ths} aid he was completely deceived by the spovioni obiert of Zoe’s secret and hidden aifeetion; dad} language used by Mr. Armytage on this dodanie: thus the designs of her father were, by an extrgn, ~—so that he thotight to himedif that Zée's fithet unary coincidence, forwarded by her cwn feelings,’ must in reality pouess an excellent heatt nolwith + ae COMME HOO® ever so on the present occasion; and though. Armytage was not of a diaposition to abandos wade (1 self to & feverish and unnatural excitem@edpai.' though her mind was tuo strong and her temparab’ metit too plavid for sudh inordinate agitation—get | f° it would be wrong to imagine, and would indeed Bé. stamping her da deficient in the softness of feride 1) satik upon the sofa whetice | that you appreciate the precious gift which E sow: violence: yot it wag not through any habitual dist |. —hbut proffered him her hand. He took it, and | 8irnulation nor studied hypocrisy that they were — conveyed it to his lips. But scarcely bad those | concealed. No-~she was all guileless innocence” || ’ f » lips touched it, when she gently but firmly disen- | and unsophisticated ingenuousness: but het cheapie x SS