The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

Tis, There was a pausc—a silence in that room ;—* and then a sob—a half-stifled sob—cameo floating upuva the lady's ear, She started—raised her head—and looked rapidly towards her husbaad. He had reseated himself: both his elbuws rested upon the table—and his hands anpported his face, which they likewise con- cealed. He was evidently wrestling against emo- tions profvundly excited - but vainly wrestling : for i his chest heaved convuisively— and the strong, powerful, vigorous man was weeping like a child. Oh! not fur another instant could the naturally generous-hearted Eleanor bruok this moving spec- tacle: but, springing towards him, she tore his hands away from his countenance—she raised his head—and pressing her lips to his furehead, while the tears rained down from her long dark lashes ‘upon his cheeks, she marmured, “ Forgive me, Francis—forgive me! I am a wretch to have tor- tured you thus!” | “It was your kindness—your goodness which un- maoned me, adorable woman !” he exclaimed, press- ing her in his arms: “it was the mercy you showed towards me, that awakened all the tenderest feelings ef my soul !” | He remained seated—and his beautiful wife stood , by bis side, leaning upon him qith one arm thrown around his neck, and one hand pressing his own to her iips,—while ber eyes, usually of such dazzling lustre, contemplated his handsome features with a melting softuess and a mournful tenderness, | ‘Never again ask me to forgive you, Eleanor,” gaid the nobleman: “for I have so much for which to implore your pardon! But you can form no idea of the extent of thet love which I bear for you, and which rendered me so diabolically selfish 2a to seal your misery by making you mine. Never—never shall I fotget the first time that I beheld you! An eochantment was upon me—the very atmosphere which you breathed was intoxicating—the air through which you seemed to float in the mazy dance was ~Gaught with ravishment! My senses were enthralled ‘—my apirit was bathed in a fountof love I went heme—and then came the terrible reflection that you ‘ wever could be mine,—although the sweetest remini- ecences of my life would ever be associated with your image. Like Orpheus, I could cherish the memory and in imagination look upon the shade of ber whom I loved: but the deep and impassable gulf appeared to be still between us! Again I saw you—and we were introduced to each other. Then did I comprehend all that celestial passion which poets love to paint,—I felt all its mystic influence, thrilling me like an elysian essence,—and | sate like ome enchanted by your side, gazing in respectful ad- miration upon you. You spoke—and your voice fell hke soft music on my ear ;—and when some one eame to lead you off to the dance, it seemed to me as if a delicious melody which had enchained my eenses, were pasaing away. Again 1 went home—to pender throughout the live-long night on your image. And then I was madman enough to think and to ' bepe that there might be such a sentiment as a Jove of divine nature, apart from gross enjoyment, and @xisting rather as an eseence than a sensuousness. And I fancied that if I made you my wife—seur- rounded you with every element of happiness which Weaith could purchase—anticipated all your slightest Wienes—ininistered unto you the most delicate yet unswearied aentions—eouverted you into the goadesa | same. Your image is aaa qn EEE ee i_——e wv" Fr, @eoaw esp ae aut eo aap ae a D oe oe «ww Ow Cee eo * oe a Ee oe om Cd a oe ~~ MYATIAIES, agate cement Se a 186 of my incessant worship—elevated you as the di- vinity to whieh it would be my only joy and desire to knee) --and studied your felicity even to those minute details that embrace the veriest trifles which the most affectionate husbands are prone to overlook,—I flat- tered myself, I say, that if I did all this, you would appreciate my good intentions—you would become contented with your lot and you would regard me with a generous compassion—if not with friendship ! Your love 1 could not hope to gain:—and yet there were moments when the starry wings of my imagi- nation wafted me, in delicious visions, away from this groes earth, and taucht me to believe thata young, amiable, and intellectual woman, placed m the midst of the glowing feelings and gentle fascina- tions which my idolatry towards her was calculated to engender, would have perhaps learnt even to love the man who thus undertook to make her welfare and her happiness his sole and constant care.” By degrees, as the Earl of Desborough gave utter ance to these sentiments in a tone plaintively touch- ing, the Countess grew deeply—deeply interestetl in the language that thus conveyed such ingenuous re- velations: her whole attention became absorbed in words which, though spoken with no sinister intent, but in the spirit of manly frankness and candour had the effect of a powerful appeal to her feelings; —and when, towards the close, they assumed the air and expression of a gentle reproach and a tender up- braiding, the conviction gradually stole upon her that she was unworthy of even the notice of the man in whose mind dwelt euch elevated thoughts and such chastening ideas. The tint of the rose re-appeared upon her cheeks which the former emotions had left so pale;—and that hue, deepening rapidly as the sense of shame grew stronger in her breaat, flushed into a glowing crimson which uverepread her coun- tenance—her néck—her very bosom ! “ Francis,” she said, in a low and solemn voiee, as she bent over him in such a way that he could not see her blushing cheeks, although he felt the gentle pressure of her warm arm round his neck,—“I am humiliated—ashamed—confused, to an extent which you cannot possibly understand. What can I say— what can I do to convince you that I am thus pro- foundly touched? You bave made me comprehend all the grossuess. of my mortal nature:—you have forced me to regard and study my own imagination in all its impunty—mzy soul m all its sensnousnesa, And yet—though possessing an ardent temperament, and at times devoured by desires and rendered rest- leas by fierce passiona—I take the Almighty to witness that I am pure and chaste in body,—I call heaven te hear the solemn oath which I pledge to you that never, never have I proved faithless to the vows breathed by my lips at the altar.” “Hush! not a word more, Eleanor — dearest Eleanor t” cried the Earl, springing from his chair and straining her to his breast. “ It were a flagrant insult towards you, Were I even to thank you for an assurance on a point regarding which I was already assured. Never—no, not fora single instant—have I suspected that the rich offering of your virgin af- factions has been surrendered to another ;-——and it is the conviction of your chastity which enbances into @ worship—an idolatry the love that I bear you! Ob !—yes—it is for this that 1 have made you the goddess ef my adoration;—end when I am not in | your presence, my thoughts are with you all the —_ ewawemnm- .£<«F.e @ 2) RE ey, never absent from my me-| COMM AOC SS co