The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

ees 90 “Oh! what happiness is it to Jove and be be- loved!” murmured the Princess, suffering her bonnet to fall off and reclining her head upon the oarouet’s shoulder: then, closing her eyes for nearly a minute as if to shut out all external objects THE MYSTERIES contemplating her with ineffable fondness, “ that the love which I experience is not centred in « common object—bnut in a lady of the most exalted rank,—a lady to whose hand I dare not sspire, and with whom no clandestine marriage would be # and thus render the revel ef her own thoughts all | legal the more luxuriously complete, she said, “And have I indeed taught your heart to love once more, Richard ?—and do you really comprehend the ns- lure of your own sentiments? Because it would break my heart were you to tell me, te-morrow— er in a week—or in a month—or even in a year, shat you were mistaken — that you were carried away by the enthusiasm of a moment——”* “Oh! do not mistrust the nature of that passion which I experience for you,” interrupted the paronet, looking dowa into the depths of those beauteous azure eyes which the soya] maiden now opened again, and which gave back a Hving flood of fondness in return for his own adoring gaze: “ do not suspect the trath nor doubt the sincerity of that sentiment which has become a worship—a faith—a creed- -an enthusiastic devotion in my soul! Nor marvel, beauteous Amelia, that a being lately so lorn, desolate, and woe-bagone as I, can have thus learnt te love so soem and so tenderly again. For al! that has happened is natural and easily to be explained ;—and I were indeed something less or something more than azan had I not yielded tothe elysian influence wherewith I was surrounded. Not a month has elapsed since you found me the mest miserable wretch ewpen the face of the earth. Every hope which could possibly bind me to ex- istence, was dead—crucified by the faithlesmmess of a woman and the treachery of friends! And thus had my bosem besome the burial-piage ef life's brightest promises—the grave of every aspiration which this world’s sun had gilded. My heart wasa tomb wherein reposed the memories of blighted affections, rained hopes, and false friendships : and at the entrance of that sepalokra) heart had the demon of despair placed a stone t har admis- sion against all tender sympathies. Bat yon came, Amelia; yeu rolled away that stone—— and you sate in my heart as an angel, prociaim- ing the resursection of hope f° “Oh! it is delightful to hear you thus account for that love which fills your soul, and which I no lenger mistrust nor doubt,” cried the Princess, flinging herself upon the baronet’s breast and appear- ing to grow there. “ And I thank Gad,” she con- (inued in a tone of exalted fervour, “ that I have been the instrument of thus re-awakening you to a sense of earth's bliss and the world’s enjoyment.” “This world bas suddenly become a paradise to my view,” responded Sir Richard Stamford. “ And yet—even now in the midst of this felicity which is se transcendent as to appear a dream,—even now, I say, does a sudden cause of alarm spring up—” “ Alarm !” echoed the Princess, withdrawing her- self partially from his embrace and surveying him with mingled apprehension and surprise. “Qh! the alarm to which I allude, springs from the love which I bear you,” hastily exclaimed the baronet ; “ and it is indeed a natural consequence of that passion.” “I do not understand you yet, Richard,” said the royal maiden. “In mercy explain yourself—and keep me not in suspense.” “I mean, dearest Amelia,” resumed the baronet, “The love which I bear for you has no consi- deretion of rites, ceremonies, or forms,” inter- rupted the Princess Amelia, with a decision which belonged to her character, bat which the strength of her passion new mainly inspired. “It is a love,” she continued, looking steadily upon his countenance, “ which can vesognise no human laws—no conventional statutes,—a love acknow- ledging only the heart's tenderest and holiest ties —the soul’s most sacred and solemn bonds. If this be the love that you oan accept and that will make you happy—if this be the passion that you can reciprocate as tenderly and aa devotedly———” “Ob! can you doubt it, my beat beloved—my charming Amelia?” exclaimed Sir Richard Stam- ferd, catching her in his arms and straining her to his breast. “This is indeed a day of happiness ferme! ILawoke with a presentiment that many eceurrences of a smiling character were to take place ere night should come again. And I have not been disappointed! Behold those letters,” he continued, pointing towards the papers lying upon the table: “they are from my solicitor at Ayles- bury, and they arrived this morning. Their con- tents are far more cheering than even my most sanguine hopes eouki have ied me to believe. All my property has been sold and realised: the Earl ef Desborough bas become the purchaser of the Manor at a large price—and net only has every asediter of the iste bank been paid in full, but a handsome iacome remains ferme, That balance- sheet, deurest Amelia, enables me te hold ap my bead again and look the world in the fece.” “Oh! sincerely —meost sincerely do I congra. tulate you, may beloved Richard,” exclaimed the Princess. “Heaven knows you have suffered enough—and it is time that the wheel of fortane ebould tara.” “Jt das tarned—and a new phase is presented to my view,” observed the baronet. “Oh! how can I be otherwise than thoroughly happy—at least as happy as a mao may be who has endured eo much as J. My character is fully cleared up—my liabilities are settled—the world once more calis me an honoorable man—and then comes your love, my angel Amelia, to bless me with its heavenly influence! And that love—ob! I accept it as you have offered—I accept it as the pure incense of yoaor affectionate heart—and I will remain worthy of it until death shall separate us.” “And on my side,” said the Princess, “I vow most solemnly aod I call heavea to attest the oath, that I will remain single for your sake-——” “Oh! pledge not yourself thus rashly *” inter- rupted the baronet with vehemenee, “ Nay—hinder me not,” said the royal maiden, with a tone aod mauner of iadomitable decision, while her beauteous countenance becawe lighted up by a kindred glow of enthusiasm: “hiuder me aot, I say—nor fear that I shall ever repent uf the words I am about to atter. But hear soe patiently and attentively while I invoke heaven to attest my vow that J will remgin unmarried, Richard, far thy aake—that I will reject avery negotiation whic} (COU DOO (CO