The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

ee eee 886 8 8 ——EE)COo*x(w)wr ww eEeee ee ee with throbbing brows—and with pelpitating heart, did I throw myself into your arms, my beloved Amelia, and breathe in your ear that fatal trath which involves alike my happiness and my honoar! Bat I do not repent having revealed that secret to you-——-Oh ! no, my dearest sister, I do not repent -—for you can now afford me your pity, your sym- | pathy, and your consolation f° “And I do compassionate you, Sophia— pro- foundly compassionate you,” said the Princess Amelia, flinging her robust white arms about her sister’s neck and embracing her affectionately. “In loving General Barth, you have bestowed your affections upon a man in every way worthy of them——” “ No—not in every way, Amelia,” interrupted the elder sister, with an accent of bitterness marking the profound melancholy of her tone: “not in every way—for he is not a Prince!” “ Alas! is it not terrible that etiquette and cold fermality should surround us as with a wall of ada- enant?” exclaimed the Princess Amelia: “is it not zunustural that our passions and feelings, though the ame as those which animate the humblest peasant, are to be curbed by laws and statutes? Marriage to us can never be associated with the heart’s feelings: &t must prove nothing more than a cold caremony— # gacial convention resulting from expediency——-” my sweet sister, is with me impos- sible,” interrupted the Princess Sophia, subduing a sob by a great effort. “Think you that situated as I am-—-being a mother, and with my secret known al- ready to several persons—I should ever dare accom- pany e suitor to the altar? No, dearest Amelia —jt is impossible; and if our parents should seek to dispose of my hand, I would rather throw myself at their feet and confess everything than allow them to confirm any matrimonial negotiation on my be- half But you, Amelia—you may hope——* ' “No, dearest Sophia,” exclaimed the younger sister; “marriage likewise becomes impossible for me! I have already told you that I love Sir Richard Stamford—and I feel that my happiness is bound up in this passion which has obtained such speedy, grompt, and despotic empire over my soul. Only one week bas elapsed since we first encountered $her under circumstances so strange—so remark- able;—and since then we have met every day,” added the Princess, concealing her blushing counte- ‘cance in Sophia's bosom. “ His misfortunes had already engendered a profound sympathy in my heart, even before I ever ; and I was therefore prepared to love him tenderly and well.” “ And he knows not that you love him thus" said the Princess Sophia, interrogatively. “ He may perhaps conjecture that such is the fact,” answered Amelia: “but no avowal of the state of my feelings has issued from my lips. Ob! no—it were indelicate in the extreme to give utterance to a word calculated to reveal all I experience for him! Our acquaintance has been so short—and he is s0 profoundly absorbed in the contemplation of those misfortunes which have fallen upon his head——” -*“ And yet be must conoeive it to be strange that you have thus met him daily since the morning "en you first became personally known to each “ Alas! I am well aware that my conduct is im- prudent in the extreme,” said the Princess Amelia, ser superb bosom heaving with a profound sigh: “nay, more—he may even look upon it as up maidenly—undignified—improper! But I ree submit to any opinion which be may form, hewever derogatory—for I feel that I love him more than my own life. He is handsomer, if possible, than our eldest brother, whom he so much resembles; and his sorrows have invested his countenance with a shade of pensiveness which give an ineffable attraction to the perfect manly beauty of his features, His voice is eoft and. touching, without losing its proper mas- culine intonation ;: his form is finely proportioned ;— and his manners are more than polished and agreeable —they are absolutely winning. How, then, can I be biamed for loving one who is in every way 60 worthy of an attachment the most devoted—the moet sincere—the most fervent that woman's heart is ca- pable of bestowing f” “fF do not blame you, my sweet sister,” marmured the Princess Sophia: “heaven knows that I have neither the inclination nor the right to reproach you. On the contrary, trary, T ceeely sympathise with you. But beware, Amelia—beware, dear girl,” continued the elder lady, now blushing deeply in her turn,— “lest your love betray you into frailty, and your lot should become as unhappy as mine f* “Sophia,” answered the young Princess, in a tone so melting and tremulous that it was scarcely au- dible, “I have reflected well upon all the probable uences of this love which I have formed~— and I am prepared to make any sacrifice and incur any risk, rather than surrender an attachment in which my earthly happiness is eo deeply involved. If my only chance of safety be in refusing to meet Sir Richard Stamford any more, assuredly I shall not adopt that course.” “ And yet you know not whether your love be re- ciprocated, my dearest sister f” observed the Princess Sophia, gazing fondly on the pend countenance of the charming and infatuated Ame J have already told you,” whe replied,“ that be ie abeorbed in the misfortunes which have overtaken him. But on each occasion that we meet, he listens with a nore evident pleasure to the words of solace which I pour into his ears: he calls me his good genius—his kind angel ;—and he begins to acknow- each | ledge that there is yet hope for him in this world. Ah! my dearest Sophia, you must not suppose that this love of mine can fail to touch a reciprocal chord in Ads heart! He welcomes me as his con- soler—he already looks upon me as his best and sincerest he assures me that his heart will ever cherish the most fervent gratitude. Oh! there is something sublimely interesting in those in- terviews which take place between us,” exclaimed the impassioned and enthusiastic Princess, her coun- tenance glowing with animation and her eyes swim- ming in a liquid radiance. “God grant that you may always speak of them in the same tone!” ejaculated the Princess Sophia. “But there are moments, dearest Amelis,” she con- tinued, her voice and manner suddenly assuming an ominous solemnity,—“when I doubt the possibility of permanent happiness for any member of our family.” “ Merciful heaven!” cried the younger sister, a strong shudder convulsing her frame: “this is an echo of the same misgiving which has so often dis- turbed my own mind” “And I fear that it is not altogether unfounded, Amelis.” retumed the Princess Sophia. “Our am OC DS er A PS sc ee tonne ep ED > EOMICEHOOOKS.CO SS