The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 242: what you’re looking at

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Sg shed if I still urge my prayer that you will [ose no time in obtaining from some mutual fricad an mtroduction to my father.” “You know not how profoundly I am afflicted, my beloved Octavia,” said the Prince, with his most melting tone and soothing manner, “by all you have told me this evening. The idea that I ean possibly be any other than your own George Hariey, is of course too ridiculous to need any protestation on my part. But that you should give way to such desponding thoughts at one time, and to such maddening refiections at another,— this it is that so deeply grieves me. Now, my adored gtri,” he exclaimed, in an impassioned tone, “I beseech you, by that love which you bear for me—by that love which I entertain for you,—by all our past happiness and fature hopes, Octavia,—do I conjure you to place unlimited confidence in me. Task but a delay of six weeks: at the end af that time I will give you such reasons ror my conduct as shal] make you regret that you even for an in- stant mistrusted my sincerity. What those redsons are, I cannot—must not—will not at present ex- plain——” “Oh! your anger would kill me!” exclaimed the yielding and tender Octavia, dinging herself upon her lover’s breast and weeping profusely. “ Yes —TI will grant the delay which you have demanded ——My God! I have no alternative——And now kiss me—tell me that you are no longer chagrined with me: fur, oh! your love has become so neces- sary to my happiness —it is a part of my very life “ Yes—I will kiss away those tears, my angel” eaid the Prince, straining her in his arms, CHAPTER LXV TRE MILLINER'S PARLOUR. Wr mast now return to Mrs. Brace’s parioar, into which Lord Florimel was introduced by Harriet, the lady’s-:maid, a fow minutes after the Prince of Wales had quitted it to join the lovely Octavia in another apartment. “This ia a pleasure which I litdle expected, my dear Gabriel,” exclaimed the milliner,—-* the pro- mise you sent me in reply to my note, having re- mained unfulfilled éor sev'ral days.” “I wish to God the nute had never been sent to me at all!” cried Florimel, throwing himself with an unfeigned air of vexation upon a seat. “What can you mean?” demanded Mrs. Brace. “Wae not the bearera truly divine creature ?* “ And it is precisely because a divine creature was the bearer of the Jetter, that Iam half mad- dened by the résult,” retarned Florimel. “Indeed ejaculated the milliner, now recall- ing to mind the little incident which had occurred in respect tothe charming daughters of Mr. Claren- don and Camilla Morton. “I am driven to desperation,” resumed Fio- simel. “ Octavia and Pauline were passing my house when your beautiful messenger came out— and all kinds of detrimental suspicions have been the consequence. If you had sent an old hag of sixty, there would have been no harm: but to make that sylph-like creatare the bearer of your mwte-—a heavenly beluy who appears to be in | TT TOTATING OVO moursing for the deaths her fine eyes have in- “She is indeed angelic,” observed Mrs. Brace. “ Angelic!” repeated Florimel: “I must admit that all possible ideas ef female loveliness are ree alised and combined in her person—my own Pau- line being left out of the question. But Pauline is as cruel as she is beautifal. Only conceive my astonishment—my grief—my despair, when, a few hours after your messenger had called —and jusé as I was about to pay a visit to Mr. Clarendor’s hovse in Cavendish Square--a note came from Pauline, upbraiding me with my perfidy—explain- ing the reasons of her anger—and begging that everything might be considered at an end between us.” “ And can you not console yourself for the loss of ‘Pauline, by the possession of Camilla?” asked Mra Brace. “If so, 1 promise you that the sweet. girl shall become your conquest ——” “I dare not think of it!” interrupted Florimel, almost savagely. “And yet when I reflect that Pauline has not even condescended to notice the ex- planatory letters which I have sent her—and that sabe has refused to see me when I called ——” “This is a cruelty surpassing all I ever heard of,” said Mre. Brace. “It would bring the haughty beauty to her senses if you were to give her a rival in yeality.” “I am so grieved—so vexed, that I know not how toact,” exclaimed the young nobleman. “The truth is, as I have already assured you, that I love Pav- line—worship—adore her ——" “But you are not to be made the butt of her caprices and whims,” interrupted Mrs. Brace. “Come, my dear Gabriel—manifest an independent sett aa “You seem most anxious that 1 should become the bidder in the market for this charming flower— this beauteous Camilla!” cried Florimel, in a tone of impatience: and yet he had not the moral courage to put an end to the discourse, or fly away from the sphere of temptation. “But the trath is, my dear friend,” he continued hastily, —* that young creature has only recently lost her parents—she is still im mourning for them—and it would be a scandal aud a shame to wrong her. No—I could not do it—I could not do it!” he added emphatically, his bettes feelings obtaining the mastery over his mind. “It would not be the first orphan whain you had seduced, Florimel,” said Mrs. Brace. “No — unfortunately —— But £ will not be tempted!’ he exclaimed abruptly. At this moment the door opened, aed Camilla “Morton entered the room, to make some inquiry of Mrs. Brace respecting a piece of work on which she was engaged: but, the instant she beheld that her mistress was not alone, she murmared a rapid apo- logy for the intrusion, and was about to withdraw. “Do not go away, my dear child,” said the milli- ner, in that kind and motherly tone which she was in the habit of assuming towards her young ladi especially to those who had not as yet fallen inta the meshes of seduction: “this is Lord Florimel —tha good nobleman to whom you took a letter for me the other day, and who has called to liquidate the deinands which I had upon his extravagant cousin. Now my love—what is it you wish to know?” Camilla advanced with modest timidity, holding in her hand the piece of work; and displaying it te SAA, eT ETS a | a Pe Ec SS eT I <SrGo@