The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

272 THE COURT OF LONDON exclaimed the baronet, surveying the princess with a species of holy adoration in which there was nought gross nor sensual, “‘ how is it possible that you can ask me if I be offended by this crowning proof of your kindness toward me? When we have walked together for hours in the park and the wind has been too cold for you to sit down to rest yourself, I should have besought you to bless my humble dwelling with your presence if only for a few minutes; but I was fearful of giving offence. And yet I have felt at the time how happy I should be if you were to cross the threshold of this apartment where I pass so many hours alone — thinking of you,” he added, in a tone of deep and fervid emotion. , “Then I am glad that I have on this occasion obeyed the sudden fancy that took possession of me as I was traversing the park,’ said the Princess Amelia, her own voice sounding | tremulously, as if it were laden with ineffable feeling. ‘ For I came forth to walk at an earlier hour than usual this morning,”’ she continued, ‘‘ and knowing that you would not think of coming to meet me until half-past twelve, I resolved to surprise you by this visit, which perhaps speaks more eloquently on behalf of my friendship than of my discretion,” she observed, in a tone of embarrassment and with a blush again deepening the vermeil glow upon her damask cheeks. “My angelic friend,” exclaimed Sir Richard Stamford, now taking her hand of his own accord, ‘‘ do not mar by any regret or compunction on your part the pleasure which this visit causes me to experience. Hitherto, amiable princess, you have performed toward me the part of the good Samar- itan. You have poured the oil and wine of sympathy and consolation into the wounds of my spirit; you have rescued me from the doom of misanthropy and the fate of cynicism; and, guiding me gently out of the bleak and desolate wilder- ness of my own dark thoughts, you have tutored me to con- template the roses of hope which yet bloom in this world even for one who has endured so much asI. Had it not been for you, excellent princess, I should have resigned myself to despair — or perhaps have flown to that more terrible alternative to which the desperate have recourse, but of which I now shudder even to think. Oh, how deep, then, is the debt of gratitude which I owe to you, generous-hearted lady; and how immensely have you augmented that obliga- (C(O) mG 6)(0)()