The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

TNE MYSTERIES. her lips—for the faithful glass, reflecting teous countenance, told her that she was char t then, ashamed at the feeling of vanity to which she had thas yielded for an instant, she returned to her chair—her features at the same time assuming asomewhat severe expression. But, oh! for Pauline to wear an angry look was | appearanc not an easy task: it was merely Venus attiring herself in the armour of Minerva ;—and though she might fix upon her brow the helmet of the Goddess of War, yet beneath the shade of the viaor those were still the eyes of the Goddess of Love and Beaaty which looked forth ! ‘ The door opened—and Lord Florimel was an- nounced, Paaline rose, and proffered him her hand: but when he made a movement to convey it to his lips, she immediately withdrew it — and, indicating a ehair, bade him be seated. lace I thank you, Pauline, for granting me this interview—at last,” he said, ina tone of seft remonstrance. “I declined to accompany my father and sister to church, on that I might see you alone,” said Pauline, “ Bat I searcoly know why weshould have met at all—since we must part presently to encounter each other no more save upon terms of mere acquaintanceship. “And yet it is hard that I should be condemned for a crime of which I am tetally innocent,” observed Florimel, with a voice and manner expressive of vexasion. “As God is my ” “Add not perjury to your other offences, Ga- briel,” interrupted Pauline. “And now give me your attention. That I have loved you well—fondly sincerely,” she continued in a tremulous tone, “you are aware: but I am not so weak and silly a girl as to espouse a man whose infidelities will render me wretched. I appreciate all the honour whieh you—a nobleman—did me at the time by the offer of your haad ; and jour conduct was the more genereus, inasmuch as | was then in a far hambler situation than at preseut. Had you re- mained faithfal tw rae, Gabriel,” she proc the now streaming down it. “My God! are things so sesious as thie ?” ex- claimed FBlesimel, eruelly tortured. “1 have lis- ee Ee nena a a cE a aC SE cial, 243 — tened to you, my beloved Pauline—-not with patipnes —but in respectful silence and now I implore you to give an attentive ear to me in my turn. Inter- rupt me not, therefore, when I take God to witness that you have wronged me with your suspieions— that, although circumstances were against me and es unfavourable——” “Oh! if I dould only be convinced of the truth of this assertion |” ejaculated Pauline, looking up and smiling through her tears. It was Venus laying aside the martial stertiness of Minerva, and becoming the Goddess of Love and Beauty onoe again ! “ Yes—I car convince you—I wid convince you f” said the young nobleman ; and, taking a lettéé from his pocket, he handed it to Pauline, saying, “The girl whom you encountered as she issued from my house, was the bearer of that missive f” Miss Clarendon cast her eyes over the billet, and read the contents as follow — “ What think you, my dear friend, of thé betrer of this? You are a naughty man for not coming to see me. Pray explain this absence of several days—not by letter, but in person. I shall expect you to sup with mé on any evening you miay choese te appoint: and ff it be agrés- abie te you, I eau promise Great the bearer, Miss Cdetttia Morton, shdil be ef the party. AH thet yeu need new say to her is that yeu will attend to the sete.” “Ah! Florimel, I have indeed wronged you? exelaimed Pauline, throwing herself inte his arms, and weeping upon his bosom. “I now perceive that the young woman wae 9 straiger to yeu-—that ahe was sent by some vile persok to tempt yous But wherefore did you not give me this explana. tion at first?” she demanded, the thought suddenly striking her : aad, withdrawing her arms from about his neck, she gazed anxiously—almost searchinghy —upen his countenance. “ Will you not at ence banich this unpleasant im eidest from your mind, dearest Pankine—withoat ask- ing me for any farther explanations?” said Flevianel, lis voice and manrier alike denoting that he wae wow troubled and embarrassed. “If you leve me, Gabriel,’ she aneweted, m a tone of mild reproach, “you will eempletely sad fully velieve my mind from any disagresable im~ do I ask you why yeu did net at once fatward me thes neta, to convines me that the young peveén whom I encountered was a stranger, and not a familiar de- quaintawee?’’ “ Pauline, I will be candid wits yous’ retunted ‘the nobleman, talking « seat woo a sefs and com pelling hes te place hewwelf by hie side; “I was afraid you would yecoghied the handwriting im “I never saw it before,” said Pauline, snatching up the billet from the table where she had fang it, | and studying it with attention. “So much the better,” exclaimed Fheviuacl. “ Aad now ask me nothing more, I bescecl you.” “This mystery distracts me!’ cried the young lady. “If you have dene naught of which you are ashamed, why shrowd a pertten of the ineident in so suspicious a secreey? ‘Tell me everything, I cow- jare you! And fest, wherefore should you have “ Because I feared~-1 dreaded--—that is, I theught it probable that the person wino pomsed this COMIGLOO S COMM