The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

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Colmar; ‘I have solemnly promised Sa- tannis to do thy behest in all things. | Wilt thou not look upon me as a broth- | : 'titude and pleasure your proffered es- er? wilt thou not believe that I can treat thee with the delicate attentions due to a sister ?’ ‘Oh ! how can I express my gratitude | ‘the orand road that leads towilmele the sufficiently !’ exe ‘laimed(ttloria, Fae en tin- tenance lighting up with indescribable JOY. ‘But I will at all events speak candidly and frankly. Know, thee, that I myself am desirous of repairing to | Vienna, accompanied by the two_hand- | maidens whom my sister has left in at- tendance upon me ‘+ You will accept, then, of the escort of myself and my pages!’ said the knight. to depart hence explained to you under what compulso- ry influence,’ he added, in a mournful, tone. ‘Yes, alas! I know all,’ murmured Gloria, turning abruptly aside and cover- ing her countenance with both her hands. ‘Oh! you weep for your sister, you | are inconsolable at being separated from her ?’ exclaimed De Colmar, in a tone of deep sympathy. ‘My God! if I could only tell you the truth now, at once!’ ejaculated Gloria, turning towards him with strange abruptness, and speaking with a hur- ried and almost passionate excitement. ‘But no, no! I am mad to dream of it!’ she cried, immediately afterwards; ‘not yet—not yet—’tis impossible! At Vienna perhaps- ~—’ And, suddenly checking herself, she assumed anattitudeof profound thought, ‘ Within six days | am bound | Satanais has doubtless | | | | | Falads, !yet astonish you in future. \ But to di- vert the conversation into another chan- nel,’ she ‘continued more gaily, ‘let me hasten to declare that I accept w ith ora cort to Vienna. On the sixth morning hence, soon after sunrise, l will join you outside the city gate, ope ning upon Austrian frontier. And now, before [ say farewell, tell me who is the young female whom you rescued from drowne ing: that is, if you be acquainted with her at all, so that “1 may know with what degree of distinction to treat her, 'as it is probable that after so severe @ struggle with death she will remain my guest for two or three days.’ ‘She is the adopted daughter of cer- tain worthy peasants, dwelling in a fo- rest near Altendorf Castle,’ replied Sir Ernest de Colmar; ‘and although of ‘humble birth, at least as, far as can be known, Angela Wildon possesses intel- ligence, beauty, and virtue sufiicient to render her an ornament to a noble’s All the care and attention which you may bestow upon her, Gloria,’ ad- ded the knight emphatically, ‘will be 'vouchsated to a worthy obje CE: | serves,’ | while De Colmar’s eyes were rivetted | upon her in mingled amazement and curiosity. What truth had she to reveal? what strange mystery was there to clear up! what secret had she been seized with a sudden anxiety to make known at once / He dared not ask her, she was such a 7 | ‘You speak ardently in her favor,’ said the Daughter of Glory, unable to conceal a certain expression of vexation in her tone. ‘Not more warmly than Angela de- responded De Colmar, his voice and manner alike conveying a gentle remonstrance on account of that jealous feeling which he had not failed to per- ceive on Gloria's part. ‘ Last night, af- ter that dread conflict, I was left sense- less upon the heath; and heaven alone can tell how long I should have remain- ed in that condition, or hos soon death itself might have fastened upon me, had not Angela Wildon, while passing that | way, tarried to succor me. You per | ceive therefore, Gloria, that | owe her singular being, so romantic in all that concerned her, so unlike the rest of the | no inconsiderable debt of gratitude ; and inasmuch as I was combatting in your sister’s cause when I experienced the defeat, which left me senseless on that female race, in her wild and wondrous | waste where Angela found me, it will destiny. ‘Think no more.of what | have just treat that. young woman w ith said,’ she observed, at length starting from her reverie; ‘or rather exercise your patience until the proper time shall come for me to reveal a mystery that will overwhelm you with amaze- ment, and yet account for somany things that have astonished you already—thnt | be but a graceful act on your part to all pos- sible kindness.’ | | ‘Oh! you cannot think that my na- ture is ungenerous!’ exclaimed Glofia, blushing deeply, for she saw that her jealousy had not escaped the notice of Sir Ernest de Colmar. ‘No, L am confident that you are foo are astonishing you now, and that will /noble-minded to entertain “paltry and comicbooks.com