The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

reenter A I TN 252 these last words: but in another moment she was caught in Ramsey’s arms—she was strained to his breast—their cheeks met in burning contact—and the yielding lady gave back the warm and luscious kisses which her lips received from his own. “Then you love me, Eleanor—you love me?” whispered Ramsey, after a long pause. “From the first moment that I saw you, I ex- perienced a profound interest in you,” was the soft response ; “and that feeling has rapidly gained upon me, acquiring strength the more I saw of you—the oftener I found myself in your society.” “Oh! ten thousand thanks for this assurance, my adored Eleanor !’’ exclaimed Ramsey, smoothing her hair of velvet blackness and softness above her high and noble forehead. “It is sweet to be beloved by you; and if any one had whispered to me an hour ago that I was so soon to enjoy this elysian happiness, I should have fancied that none but an angel from heaven could have conferred it on me. Dearest, dearest Eleanor—for the first time in my life do I experience the ineffable bliss of love—its mysterious depth — its unfathomable influence — its ecstatic sway—its voluptuous refinement ;—and 1 thank thee —from the profundities of my soul do I thank thee, for initiating me in this empyrean felicity. My ex- istence has kindled into a new life: I feel the con- summation of all the golden dreams and brilliant hopes which my fancy has ever formed when won- deting what love could be.” “And I also love for the first time,” whispered fleanor, her bosom throbbing against the adventurous hand which now pressed it. . “ For the first time!” exclaimed Ramsey. “Is it possible that you have never loved till now ?” “Never with the ardour—the devotion—the en- thusiasm that I feel for you,” she replied, her clear soft voice harmonising with that enchanting loveli- ness which invested her as with a halo. “ Then you love not your husband, sweet Eleanor?” said Ramsey, straining her to his breast as she lay half-reclining in his arms—ber cheek resting against his own, and their hair mingling. “ No—TI never loved him,” she answered empha- tically: “and I may perhaps some day tell you why all his attention, devotion, and generosity could never succeed in gaining my affections. Yes—that secret may I perhaps reveal to you, Gustavus,” she added, a burning blush suffusing itself over her countenance, her neck, and her bosom—that firm and glowing bust with which her companion’s hand was now toying in suth delicious impunity, “ But there was a moment—not very long ago—when I fancied that I loved another ; and for a few days I mistook that transitory feeling for the real, pure, and true passion. Such however it was not: for the instant that this other's conduct manifested itself to me in its intense selfishness and utter profligacy, I was enabled to discard him from ny heart with an ease that astonished even myself But towards you, Gustavus, I expe- rience a far different sentiment; and I know that this sentiment is love—the sincerest, tenderest love! Fer were you to appear before my eyes as a character less amiable and worthy than now I believe you to be, I should still love—still cling to you—still be ready and willing to follow you over the face of the earth. This, then, my Gustavus, is love—and it is a love which I have never known before and shall never know again!” “Oh! welcome, dearest Eleanor—welcome indeed THE MYSTERIES. to my soul is this love of thine,” said Ramsey, irs- printing a thousand kisses upon her lips. “ Yes— welcome this virgin love as if it were also your maiden charms which you surrendered up to me——” “Gustavus—dear Gustavus,” whispered Eleanor, throwing herarms about his neck and embracing him with the most impassioned ardour : “the words which you have just uttered——-But, no matter——I dare not tell you my secret now——” And her lovely head rested tpon his shoulder, her bosom palpitating against his breast. “To-night, my angel,” murmured Ramsey, in a low and melting tone—for his voice was full of a rich masculine melody,—“ to-night you will render me completely happy—you will grant me the privileges of love,—you will receive me in your chamber—not with the coyness of the timid girl, but with all the impassioned ardour which has already made your caresses so ineflably sweet.” The Countess whispered a reply; and Ramsey's features became radiant with joy, and triumph, and sensual passion. “Oh! what happiness awaits me,” he continued, in that same soft murmuring tone: “and how tedi- ously will pass the hours until that blissfal moment when I shall clasp thee in my arms, confident of already standing on the threshold of paradise! No —not tediously will pass those hours—because we shall be together during the interval; and, though in the presence of your busband, we must control our feelings—restrain the ardour of our Jooks—and speak only in the usual terms of a cold courtesy,—never- ‘theless we shall enjoy each other's society, and in the secret depths of our hearts will exist the knowledge that we love and that we shall soon be happy! And when the witching hour arrives at last, my Eleanor-- then in the retirement of your own chamber, and ‘when clasped in each other’s arms, you can breathe in my ear that secret to which you alluded ere now.” “ Yee—for henceforth we will have no secrets with each other,” replied the fond, impassioned woman in whose veins the hot blood circulated like lightning. e . e e e e e e e ® e ‘Twas midnight—and Eleanor was now alone in her chamber. The lady’s-maids had just withdrawn, having a3- sisted their mistress to lay aside her garments and arrange her luxuriant hair for the night. A loose wrapper enveloped her form—her naked feet were thrust into slippers;—and, half-reclining upon a sofa drawn near the fire, the Countess awaited with indescribable feelings the coming of her lover. The wax-candles upon the mantel had been ex- tinguished; and a small night-lamp, placed on the toilette-table, joined its rays with the light of the fire to shed a soft and subdued lustre through the room. Delicious perfames exhaled from poroe- lain vases standing in the window-recesses ;—and the warm and fragrant atmosphere seemed to be the volaptuous breath of love itself. How rapidly beat Eleanor’s heart as she lay half- reclined upon the sofa! A species of timidity—like that which the virgin- bride feels when entering the nuptial couch—was upon her. Her colour changed fifty times in a minute,—new glowing with the richest crimson upon her cheeks—now sinking into a strange paleness ; COMIGoOOKS COL