The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. has that possibility amounted to a probability—and in another week or ten days it will be an inevitable certainty. Will not the time come, then, my ever dear Eleanor, when we must look all this in the face and determine how to meet the emergency ?—and will it not be better to find ourselves prepared how to act, instead of being left to the irresolution which invariably accompanies the excitement and the con- fasion of a sudden discovery? Nay, more—would it not be even preferable to anticipate the catas- trophe ?* “To what do you allude ?—what do you mean ?” demanded the Countess, now for the first time awakening somewhat from her delicious dreams of blisa, and starting back almost in affright from the precipice on which she found herself standing. * You have some plan in your mind—some project, Gustavus——” “Hear me calmly, my love,” interrupted Ram- eey, again lavishing upon the charming patriciah lady the most tender and ardent caresses—so that the cheeks which rested against his own glowed with animation, and the eyes which looked up into his were filled with a lustrous languor, melting yet full af fire. “I beseech and implore you to con- template, dear Eleanor, the results of a discovery,” he continued. “My ignominious expulsion from the hoase would be the first step taken by your enraged husband—and who knows but that he might sacrifice you to his fary? Then—Oh! then, what would become of me? I should destroy myself— and our love would terminate as fatally as our deaths would be premature [” “ Alas! alas! there is indeed much truth in this prophetic picture which you have drawn, Gus- tavus,” exclaimed Eleanor, snatching herself from his embrace and gazing upon him in mingled terror and entreaty. “Tell me— Oh! tell me, I conjure you, what course you would have us adopt—what plan you would recommend.” “Eleanor,” said Ramsey, in a tone that was solemn and even awe-inspiring,—“ you have given me every proof of an ardent love—and you have declared that you would die to serve me. But you ghall live to bless me: we will live for each other! Oh! can you not comprehend what I woald sug- gest ?—do you not understand the nature of the sacrifice which you must make for this love of our's 2” “ Sneak—speak, Gustavus f" exclaimed the Coun- tess, vehemently. “ What would you have me do ?” * Fly with me!” was the resolute and yet solemn auswer. “Qh! my God—must it come to that ?” oried the lady, bursting into tears and wringing her hands. “Must this love of our’s bring disgrace upon me ——” “If you hesitate, Eleanor,” interrupted Ramsey, “it is that you love me less than you love the brilliant position which you occupy in the world of fashion. In this case I will leave you—the sooner the better—ere my heart breaks——” * Leave me! O cruel Gustavus—why give utter- ance to such menaces ?” exclaimed Eleanor, pain- sully excited. “No—you shall not leave me—we will not separate! Iam happy with you-—I shall be wretched without you. What to me is the gay and splendid sphere of rank and fashion? Have 1 not abandoned it for these two weeks past in order to be constantly in your society? Oh! you know 379 not yet how profound is woman’s love—you have not learnt to appreciate the immensity of her affection! But I will teach you the lesson, Gus- tavus—and you shall receive from me a far greater pruof of my tenderneas than any I have yet been able to afford you. For I will surreuder my good name in order that I may keep your love—-I will fling fame and reputation to the winds, sooner than be separated from thee! Yes—all that woman values most dearly will I resign for your sake,— home, friends, relations, and the world’s adulation —and what is more still, the world's respect! Now will you believe that I love you ” And as she gave utterance to these last words, the patrician lady started from her seat—and drawing herself up to the fall of her queen-like stature and her noble height, she appeared radiant with triumph and overpoweringly beautiful in the Olympian efful- gence which the glowing animation of her cheeks and the lustre of her eyes shed around her. Oh! the broken ties of sacred matrimony—a ruined reputation—a cast-away future,—sll, all were now dared and defied by this nobly-born woman who was courageous enough to immolate everything dear upon the altar of her still dearer love! “ Eleanor, I thank you—my God! I thank you, from the depths of my soul!” exclaimed Ramsey, sinking at her feet and covering her hand with kisses. “Rise, my well-beloved !” she said, little dreaming how much of theatrical effect there was in his pro- ceeding, but judging him by her own fervid sincerity and profound enthusiasm. “What I have pledged myself to do, I will perform without a murmur—and the sooner, the better, now that my resolution ia taken. Pardon me, then,” she continued in a more subdued tone and with a sudden embarrassment of manner, as she pressed her lover's hand aflection- ately,—* pardon me if I now turn the conversation for a moment upon things of worldly importance only. But it is necessary that I should inform you, my beloved Gustavus, that I am not independent of my husband in a pecuniary sense. A few hundreds of pounds—my jewels—these are all the wealth that I can take away with me; and I know that for the present your circumstances are not as prosperous as I could wish them to be.” “But I am young—and I am not wanting in certain intellectual qualifications,” answered Ram- sey. “I possess a perfect knowledge of the French language—and in the United States of America | may hope, as a tutor or as a translator, to earn a livelihood. And then —in addition to all thie, I think I may safely say that by means of certain deeds in my possession I may obtain a considerable sum of money ——” “Oh! it grieves me to think that we are compelled to speak of the dross of this world in the same breath with love which js the gold of the heart’s feelings!” exclaimed Eleanor. “ Enough, then, upon that subject. You know my position, Gustavas—you are aware that it is little more than my profound affec- tion which « can bestow upon thee. Oh! if my fortune were a8 immense as my love for thee, the wealth of the Indies would be pauperism in com- parison therewith !” “Ns thy love only which [ seek, Eleanor,” re- sponded the treacherous criminal, as he strained that confiding and noble-hearted woman to his tainted breast. They now resumed their seats upon the sof-- COUMIC NOG) SS co