The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

PAULINE 171 about in search of you, she might accost me to ask if I had seen any one answering your description — ”’ ‘““T again repeat, my dear Miss Clarendon,” interrupted Florimel, “ that I should never forgive myself if I allowed you to venture abroad and incur the chance of receiving such insults as those from which I have escaped. No, pray remain at home, and permit me to stay with you a little while.” ‘‘ With infinite pleasure, Miss Florimel,”’ said the amiable Pauline. “‘ But your mother — will she not be uneasy? ”’ “She will hasten home, making sure that I have gone thither,’ answered the young nobleman. ‘“‘ But it is a long way off, in the immediate vicinity of Blackheath, and I tremble at the idea of returning all by myself into such a ‘lonely neighbourhood. The hackney-coachmen are all connected with robbers and bad people — ”’ “Do not distress yourself, my dear Miss Florimel,”’ said Pauline, in a voice expressive of deep interest; for the wily nobleman had made these observations in such a melan- choly and plaintive tone that the generous-hearted Miss Clarendon was profoundly touched by the apparently pain- ful embarrassment in which her new friend was involved. “T thank you sincerely for your sweet sympathy,” returned Florimel; ‘‘ but how am I to act?’”’ Then, after a few moments’ seeming reflection, he said, ‘‘ If I only knew of some respectable lodging-house in the neighbourhood where I could obtain a bed —”’ “Oh, if that be all,’”’ interrupted Pauline, in the most cheerful tone that ever expressed a winning hospitality of disposition, “ your difficulties are at an end. There is a spare bed in this house at your service, my father being absent; and my sister, whom I expect home at about eleven, will be as much rejoiced as myself to harbour you as a guest.”’ “Your kindness is such that I know not how to find words sufficient to acknowledge it,’”’? observed Florimel, inwardly rejoicing at the success which his stratagem was thus experiencing step by step. But when he fixed his eyes upon the lovely being seated opposite to him, and read all the goodness of her heart in the lineaments of her candid and ingenuous countenance, and while the musical tones of her sweet voice yet sounded in his ears, and her gay and innocent smile appeared to beam upon him with a species (C(O) anil Doo (C(O)