The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 266: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. 25) and because your misfortunes have neither been few nor light. And therefore do I repeat that I am grieved to behold these proofs of unhappiness on your part—and I fear that some secret sorrow Is op- pressing you. If this conjecture be correct—and if it should lie in the Earl of Desborough’s power to remove the cause ——” “ Every word that your ladyship utters is aggra- vating my misery,”’ exclaimed Ramsey, casting upon her a look full of tenderness: then, instantly with- drawing his eyes, he said, “I implore you to suffer me to leave this house before my feelings hurry me into expressions which you would receive 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 spoke, he sprang from his seat and rushed towards the door. “Mr. Wakefield — stop—I conjure you!’ cried Eleanor, also starting from her chair. “ This con- duct on your part will appear so strange—so unac- eountable Besides,” she 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 [ obey you, beauteous lady!” said Ramsey, turning back and advancing slowly towards the spot where the Coun- tess, trembling all over with indescribable emotions, was supporting herself by holding to the mantel- piece. ‘ Yes—I obey you in this, as [ 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- fused,” murmured Eleanor, sinking back into her chair—while her glowing cheeks, her heaving bosom, and her melting eyes bore evidence to the soft and voluptuous feelings 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 she 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 fe- peated, after an instant’s pause: “I will tell you! A strange series of adventures rendered me an in- mate of your mansion. The generous hospitality which I have received beneath this roof has naturally led 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, beauteéous lady, this sentiment of profound gratitude has deepened into a feeling which I never knew before—a feeling 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 listen to your voice, which flows like delicious music upon my ears—and I gaze on your countenance, when you observe me not, until I feel as if I could throw myself on my knees before you and entreat that I may become your slave —your humblest menia!, in order that I may de- monstrate my devotion. Yes—dear lady, all this I experience towards you;—and yet I know that it is ee 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 rapids of the Cana- dian rivers, as to hope to stem the tide of such feel- ings as these which agitate my heart. Therefore, again do I beseech you to suffer me to depart at once—to fly from 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—TI will de- part—O God! I will fly " And again he rushed towards the door. “Gustavus—Mr. Wakefield—this must not be!” exclaimed Eleanor. “Stay — remain — I conjure you!” And, sinking back into the chair whence she had started for a moment, the Countess covered her face with her hands, as if to close her eyes upon every- thing around her and look only into the depths of her own soul. “Ts it possible that you have commanded me to remain, after hearing this confession which I have dared to make?” said Ramsey, throwing as much tenderness as possible into his voice, as he once more placed himself near the Countess. “You are not angry with me, then?—Oh! you are not angry with me—you will pardon my presumption—you will forgive my boldness—and perhaps you will pity me, dear lady 2?” he added, bending his head down close to her own. “Oh! Tam at a loss how to answer you,” mur- mured Eleanor, withdrawing her hands from her countenance and slowly raising her eyes until they met his own—when glowing, ardent, and impas- sioned were the looks thus exchanged. “ You have surprised me—filled me with confusion,” she added, in a melting tone: “ but you must not think of leay- ing me—you must not quit the house. Friendless as you are—inexperienced in the ways of this great metropolis” “ But itis for your sake, my benefactress, that I am anxious to depart hence,” interrupted Ramsey, 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 adoration—a worship amounting almost to a delirium of the feelings;—and it were madness on my part to remain within the sphere of this influence which maddens while it delights me— which bathes me in ecstatic bliss, and at the same time rends my soul with the crucifixion of ineffable tortures. Wherefore, then, should I remain ” “Because I ask you to stay—because I implore you not 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 plunge headlong into the abyss of guilty pleasure and con- summate any sacrifice for the sake of that handsome young man who appeared a perfect Adonis in her eyes as he avowed the ardour of his love with so much apparent ingenuousness. ‘“ No—you must remain, Gustavus — dear Gustavus,’ she added, raising her eyes towards him with a look in which all the voluptuousness of her nature and all the sen- suality of her teniperament 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 GONG 6)(0)©) (Ss. (C(O)