The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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and because your misfortunes have neither been few nor light. And therefore do I repest tha} I am grieved to behold these proofs of unhappiness on your I fear that some secret sorrow is op- pressing You. If this conjecture be correct—and if ft ah gh the Earl of Desborough’s power to remove E word that ladyship utters « Every your ladyship utters is aggra- vating my misery,” exclaimed , casting upon her a look fal] of tenderness: th tantly with- drawing his eyes, he said, “I implore you to suffer Se redone hich yon m f i hurry me into which you wo ve with in- dignation, and which would leave me no alternative than suicide in the despair that I should experience for having given utterance to them.” And, as he thus ¢poke, he sprang from his seat and “Mr, Wakefield — stop—I conjure you!” cried Eleanor, alao ing from her chair. “ This ocon- on your paft ap so strange—so unac- ecuntatie —— Besides,” ie added hastily, “it is scarcely kind of you to fly from us as if we were your enemies instead of your friends,” ®*You command me to remain—and I obey you, beauteous lady!” said Ramsey, turning back and advancing slowly towards the spot where the Coun- test, trembling all over with iadescribable emotions, was supporting herself by holding to the mantel- Yea I obey piece, you in this, as I am ready to obey you in all things—even with the sacrifice of my life! But, remember,” he added, suddenly sinking his voice to a low whisper,—“ remember that, when in your presence, I am not master of myself” “What do you mean?—I am bewildered—con- fased,” murmured Eleanor, sinking back into her chair—while her glowing cheeks, her heaving: bosom, and her melting eyes bore evidence to the soft and roluptuous which filled her heart. “You ask me what I mean,” said Ramsey, placing himself near her, and fixing upon her a burning, im- passioned look which ehe returned for a moment—a single moment; and then her eyes were cast down- ward, while deeper grew the blush upon her splendid countenance, and more agitated were the heavings of her breast :—“ you ask me what I mean,” he re- peated, after an instant’s pause: “I will tell you! A strange series of adventures rendered me an in- mate of yout mansion. The generous hospitality which [ have received beneath this roof has naturally ted me to regard your noble husband as the best of men — yourself as the most estimable of women. Thus far, then, am I devoted to you: I could fall down and worship you both as the kindest friends that God ever gave to man. But, alas! towards yourself, beauteous lady, this sentiment of profound gratitude has ed into a feeling which I never knew before—a g which strangely combines the most exquisite bliss with the acutest anguish— the dreams of heaven with the pains of hell! For I behold you beautiful—Oh! so beautiful that you ap- pear to me a vision of the fancy’s creation, and not a being of earth : and I Jisten to your voice, which flows like delicious music upon my ears—and I gaze on your countenance, when you observe me not, until J feel as if I could throw myself on my knees before you and entreat that I may become your slave —your humblest menial, in order that I may de- monstrate my devotion. Wes—dear lady, all this I exptrience towards you;—and yet I know that it is THE MYSTERIE£S. 95) a crime to harbour such sentiments. But, my God! as well might a man endeavour to roll back the tor- rents of Niagara or breast the rapide of the Cana- dian rivers, as to hope to stem the tide of such feel- ings a these which agitate my heart Therefore, again do I beseech you to me te depart at once—to fly froth this mansion whose hospitality I have outraged with my unhappy passion—to leave a city where so bright a vision has burst upon my view to dazzle me for a moment with its supernal lustre and then leave me wretched! Yes—I will de- part—O God! I wil] fy-———” And again he rushed towards the doer. “Gustavus—Mr. Wakefield—this must not be!” exclaimed Eleanor. “Stay — remain — I sonjure you!” ; And, sinking back into the chair whenee she had started for a moment, the Countess covered her face with her hands, as if to close her eyes upen avety- thing aroand her and look only into the depths of hee wn s0 “Ts it possible that you have commanded me to remain, after hearing this eoufession which I have dared to make?” said Rameey, throwing as mach tenderneas as possi placed himself near the Countess. “You are het angry with me, then?’—Oh! you are not angty with me—you will pardon my presumption—yov will forgive my boldness—and perhaps you will pity me, dear lady t” he added, bending his head down elese mur to her own. “Oh! [Tam at a loes how to answer you,” mured Eleangpr, withdrawing her hands from her countenance and slowly raising her eyes until they met his own—when glowing, ardent, and impes- sioned were the looks thue exchanged, “ You have surprised me—filled me with confusion,” she added, in a melting tone: “ but you must not think of leat- ing me—you must not quit the house, Frisndless as you are-inexperisnced in the ways of this great metropolis——” “ But it is for your sake, my benefactrese, that I am anxious to depart hence,” interrupted Rameey, in an impassioned tone. “I cannot endure the idea of insulting you by the spectacle of that misery into which my hopeless passion will plunge me. In six days—six short days—I have learnt to love you with an enthusiasm—an adocation—a worship atnounting almost to a delirium of the foslings ;—aad it were madness on my part to remain within the sphere ef this influenee which maddens while it delights me— which bathes me in ecstatic bliss, and at the same time reads my soul with the crucifixion of ineffable tortures. Wherefore, then, should I remain——” “ Because I ask you to stay—because I implere you net to leave me thus,” interrupted the Countess, now so completely borne away by the torrent of her own devouring passions, that she was ready to pluuge headlong into the abyss of guilty pleacure and con: summate any sacrifice for the eake of that hendeome young man who appeared a perfect Adenals in her eyes as he avowed the ardour of his love with so much apparent ingenuousness, “No—you muet remain, Gustavus — dear Gustavus,’ she added, raising her eyes towards him with a lodk in whith all the voluptuousness of her nature and all the sen- suality of her temperament spoke with an unmis- takable eloquence: “you must remain, I say—to love me—and to be loved in return.” Her head drooped as her sinking voice murmured a EE eee GCOMIGROO S COMM