The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ne Ee ED —_- the secret of the love with which you have inspired me- that love which is consuming me——” Aé first Christina was filled with confusion and trepidation at the sudden appearance of Octavian : the next moment she was terrified by his manner: but now she said in an agitated voice, “My lord, ‘I beseech you not to address me in these terms! It is an insult to that wife of yours who is indeed the angel you declare her to be !” “But you must hear me, Christina!” replied Octavian, who was labouring under the moet powerful excitement. “To whom else can I address myself on such a subject, if not to you,-you whom she lovese—yow who are her friend——” “« My lord, for the very reason that your amiable wife regards me es s friend—— it is useless for you to treat me thus! Good heavens, your coldness kills me! Those who love, can recognise love in others—and I ” know that I am not altogether indifferent to you !” “ My lord, I can hear no more!” e our hercing, with burning blushes upon her cheeks: and she moved towards the door. “ Recollect |’ he said, to intercept her passage: “if you leave the room thus abruptly, Zoe will inquire the reason—and you will have to inform her that I have insulted you—that I have outraged your delicacy,—and what a dagger will this be to drive deep down into her heart !’’ “ Good heavens, in what a position are you placing me!’ murmured Christina, s0 painfully affected—so bewildered, perplexed, and even an- guished, that she knew not what to do. “Christina, I tell you that I am half mad!” hastily rejoined Lord Octavian Meredith. “ That angel in human shape is making every sacrifice of feeling for my sake! She knows that I love another—but she does all she can to prevent me from suspecting that she has that knowledge which is preying upon her very vitals! And now she is going abroad—and she will not allow me to accom- pany her !” “ My lord,” interrupted Christina vehemently, and even with passion, —“ it would be infamous labouring under the strongest excitement, “that I have implored and entreated—I have prayed and besought Zoe to permit me to go with her: but -she will not. Mild, submissive, and meek in all other respects as she is, uhe shows herself firm and pon this one point. But, Oh! the pre- Oe My lord,” cried again speaking vehemently and eecioaehaly “if you do not accompany her ladyship, you will be guilty of a| of eruelty so abhorrent——~” “That it will even make you hate me?” he said, in a voice which was hoarse with the excite- ment of his harrowed feelings. “By heaven, it will only require that to impel me to suicide at once !”” “ My lord !” half-shrieked Christina. “Oh, yes! I tell you that I am well nigh mad,” ejaculated the young nobleman: end he pas- sionately tossed the rich clusters of his hair away from his throbbing brows. “You know not how much I have suffered since you were here last three mortal weeks of one long agony! Heaven can attest that I have striven—Oh ! I have striven to do my duty towards Zoe, and to banish you from my memory——” “My lord,” cried Christina, “ your language as @ married man is an offence and an insult to my ears. You know that I dare not heave the room for fear that your angel-wife should suspect how you are treating me: and therefore your con- duct is cruel—most ungenerous! It amounts to s tion : and I entreat———no, I command you to be silent !” “Qh! give moe your hatred, Christina, if you will,” exclaimed the young nobleman, whe “aia indeed sppear as if he were going mad, “ rather than cold indifference! Am I to blame because I have no control over my own feelings! No, no—it were monstrous to judge me thus harshly{ Christina,” he continued, in a manner, “I tell you again and again that I have striven to do my duty towards Zoe: I have forced myself to dwell upon all her goodness—her amia- bility—and what is more, upon the sublime gene- rosity of her disposition; I have endeavoured to catch the transfusion of that love which she cherishes for me———-but in all these have I failed ! Now, am I to be blamed for this? No, no—I am to be pitied !—and you see before you the most miserable wretch upon the face of the earth !” It were impossible to describe the feelings which agitated the young maiden as she listened to Octavian’s speech. It affected her almost to tears: and yct her virgin modesty was offended that he should suffer her, however distantly, to understand her which prevented to his wife. She “the veey bottoms that she felt she ought not to listen to the language he was utter- ing. She would have flown from the room—but the strong reason already specified compelled her to remain there. Never was her situation so pain- ful !—and she could have thrown herself upon the seat to give vent to her feelings in tears, only that she dreaded lest Zoe should suddenly make her . Ah! but a thought struck her. “ My lord,” she hastily said, “Zoe was to be absent but for a minute—and twenty have elapsed since she left the room! She may be ill—and I go to succour her.” “ Stay !” cried Octavian: “stay!” and he seized her hand. “ Not another second! Unhand me, my lord!” The next instant the door closed behind the agitated girl: but scarcely had she thus passed ous upon the landing, when she caught the sounds rapid footsteps ascending the flight leading to |the upper storey,—footateps so light that they (COL (C DOO CS (COL