The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

THE VIRGIN AND THE VOLUPTUARY 177 ‘“‘ You shall possess my entire confidence, dearest Pauline,” said the disguised nobleman. “ The first secret that I have to reveal to you is this—TI love!” “And are you unhappy on that account? ”’ inquired the young maiden, in a tone of tender interest. ‘‘ But perhaps you are not loved in return? ”’ “TI know not,’ responded Florimel, throwing a deep melancholy into his voice. ‘‘ I hope — and yet I fear.” “Doubtless the object of your affection is very hand- some?” said Pauline. ‘Not handsome — femininely beautiful — very beauti- ful!’ exclaimed Florimel, with all the effusion of a worship. ‘“ But tell me, my dearest friend, have you yet known what it is to love? ”’ ‘ “Never,’? answered Pauline. “Then are you unacquainted with a source of the purest and most ineffable delight,” said the youthful voluptuary; “or I should rather describe it as a deliciousness of the feel- ings, a paradise of the emotions — ’’ “Wherefore, then, are you unhappy, Gabrielle?” in- quired the artless girl. “Oh, love is a pleasing pain, or a painful pleasure — I know not how to describe it!’”’ exclaimed Florimel. ‘“ It is something that encourages the most heavenly hopes, throughout which there nevertheless runs an undercurrent of fears; and yet these fears are not exactly what you would describe as gloomy apprehensions. They are rather an exciting influence, seldom or never sinking into despond- ency. Thus, when I tell you that I am unhappy because I fear, I should likewise avow that I am happy because | hope; and such a strange, undefinable sentiment is love, that these contradictory feelings, these opposite sentiments, are experienced by the soul at one and the same time.” “°Tis singular, most singular,’ observed Pauline, in a musing tone; ‘“ and yet I think that I can fully understand what love must be.” ‘Friendship often ripens into love,’’ said Florimel. ‘You can scarcely say often, my dear Gabrielle,’ re- turned Pauline; “‘ because it is very seldom that friendship ever subsists between a young lady and a young gentleman who are not related to each other.”’ ‘““ Nevertheless, such is the case with regard to myself,” (C(O) AAI Doo (C(O)