The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

258 THE COURT OF LONDON situated in the midst of vast estates, and bid you regard them all as your own.” Louisa, still weeping and smiling, threw her arms about her lover’s neck, and kissed him fondly in token of gratitude for the language which he thus held toward her. And, oh, whatever painful adventures the maiden might have passed through, whatever sorrowful reflections she might at any time have known, whatever misgivings for a season she might have entertained through the treachery of the late Marquis of Leveson in respect to her lover’s fidelity, how immeasur- able beyond compare was the recompense which she now received. For a little space a shade of sadness was thrown over the scene, when the young marquis related the catastrophe which had deprived him of his sister Ernestina, that same catas- trophe in which his uncle’s life had also terminated so miserably. Forgotten then was any ill which for a time the generous-hearted Louisa had sustained at the hands of either the late marquis or of the perished Ernestina, and the tears ran down her cheeks as she listened to the sad tale which her lover recited. But we will not dwell upon this, for it would be a ridiculous affectation to pretend that the late tragedy could materially mar the happiness which the lovers experienced at being thus reunited, —reunited, also, under circumstances so auspicious as to portend no more parting. Let us follow the young Marquis of Leveson as, with Vene- tia on one arm and Louisa on the other, he repaired to that cottage where in times past he had first learned to esteem the amiable qualities of his intended bride, and in learning to esteem her had learned to love her. Let us suppose the cottage reached, and Miss Stanley appearing at the garden gate to give the most cordial welcome to the Marquis of Leveson; and then, while the happy party are sitting down to the dinner which Mary, the servant maid, had prepared in her very best style, and which the aunt in good sooth had specially superintended, let us devote the following chapter to certain explanations relative to him who through- out so large a portion of our narrative has figured as Jocelyn Loftus. comicloooks C@ im