The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. her lips—for the faithful glass, reflecting her beau- teous countenance, told her that she was charming: then, ashamed at the feeling of vanity to which she had thus yielded for an instant, she returned to her chair—her features at the same time assuming a somewhat severe expression. But, oh! for Pauline to wear an angry look was 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 vizor those were still the eyes of the Goddess of Love and Beauty which looked forth! The door opened—and Lord Florimel was an- nounced. Pauline 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 chair, bade him be seated. “In the first place I thank you, Pauline, for granting me this interview—ai last,’ he said, ina tone of soft remonstrance. “] declined to accompany my father and sister to church, on purpose that I might see you alone,” said Pauline. “ But I scarcely 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 totally innocent,’ observed Florimel, with a voice and manner expressive of ” vexation. “As God is my judge “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 contmued 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 which you—a great nobleman—did me at the time by the offer of your hand ; and your conduct was the more generous, inasmuch as I was then in a far humbler situation than at present. Had you re- mained faithful tv me, Gabriel,” she proceeded, the pearly tears now trickling down her beauteous cheeks, “I should have esteemed myself the hap- piest woman in the world; and, on becoming your wife, my whole and sole care would have been to convince you that I was worthy of your affection. I do not say that I should have given you a love greater than any which human heart ever knew before: but certainly it would have been outrivalied by no devotion of which woman is capable. Bright and glorious, Gabriel, were the fairy scenes of hap- piness which my wumagination had woven ; and in that wild and romantic castle-building my soul was steeped in a fount of indeseribable bliss. But gone are those visions—vanished are those sweet dreams; and all is a dreary waste where the gor- geous structures raised by my fervent fancy so lately stood. We shall part—but on my side it will be in sorrow, and not with anger. I give you back your vows and pledges—I release you from all your solemn promises—in the same way that you must emancipate me from mine.” And, as Pauline uttered these last words, she averted her countenance to hide the tears that were now streaming down it. “My God! are things so serious as this ?” ex- claimed Florimel, cruelly tortured. “1 have lis- jure you! 243 tened to you, my beloved Pauline —not with patience —but in respectful silence ; and now L 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 suspicions— that, although circumstances were against me and appearances unfavourable > “Oh! if I could only be convinced of the truth of this assertion !” ejaculated Pauline, looking up and smijing through her tears. It was Venus laying aside the martial sternness of Minerva, and becoming the Goddess of Love and Beauty once again! “ Yes—I can convince you—I will convince you !” said the young nobleman ; and, taking a letter 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 !” Miss Clarendon cast her eyes over the billet, and read the contents as follow :— “ What think you, my dear friend, of the bearer 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 suv with me on any evening you may choose to appoint; andif it be agree- able to you, I can promise that the bearer, Miss Camilla Morton, shail be of the party. All that you need now say to her is that you will attend to the note.” “Ah! Florimel, I have indeed wronged you!” exclaimed Pauline, throwing herself into his arms, and weeping upon his bosom. “I now perceive that the young woman was a stranger to you—that she was sent by some vile person to tempt you—— But wherefore did you not give me this explana- tion at first?” she demanded, the thought suddenly striking her : and, withdrawing her arms from about his neck, she gazed anxiously—almost searchingly —upon his countenance. “ Will you not at once banish this unpleasant in- cident from your mind, dearest Pauline—without ask- ing me for any farther explanations?” said Florimel, his voice and manner alike denoting that he was now troubled and embarrassed. “Tf you love me, Gabriel,’ she answered, in a tone of mild reproach, “you will completely and fully relieve my mind from any disagreeable im- pressions which remain upon it. Once more, then, do I ask you why you did not at once forward me this note, to convince me that the young person whom I encountered was a stranger, and not a familiar ac- quaintance ?” “Pauline, I will be candid with you,” returned the nobleman, taking a seat upon a sofa and com- pelling her to place herself by his side: “I was afraid you would recognise the handwriting in that note.” “T never saw it before,” said Pauline, snatching up the billet from the table where she had flung it, and studying it with attention. «“ So much the better,” exclaimed Fiorimel. “ And now ask me nothing more, I beseech you.” “This mystery distracts me!” cried the young lady. “Ifyou have done naught of which you are ashamed, why shroud a portion of the incident in so suspicious a secrecy? ‘Tell me everything, I con- And first, wherefore should you have fancied that I might recognise the handwriting ?” “ Because I feared—TI dreaded that is, I thought it probable that the person who pentied this VOOLKS (CO)