The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

MR. CLARENDON 15 For a few moments Pauline remained like a kneeling statue, transfixed and paralyzed with the shock occasioned by her father’s language. Her upraised countenance, pale as marble, denoted amazement blended with terror and grief; and her arms remained outstretched to their full length, the hands being joined. But suddenly her cheeks flushed and her eyes flashed fire in a manner never seen before with respect to her; and, rising hastily from her suppliant posture, she said, in a low, thick voice, ‘‘ Father, am I to understand that you accept this peerage and this pension as the recompense for our Octavia’s dishonour? ”’ ‘‘ Silence, child, I command you to be silent! ’”? exclaimed Lord Holderness, his countenance growing livid with rage. ‘Then this house is no longer a home for me,”’ said Pauline, her features once more becoming ghastly pale, her whole form quivering with the strong spasms that shot through her heart, but her voice, nevertheless, indicating the firmness of a heroine and the self-devotion of a martyr. “ Farewell, father, farewell! Not for worlds would I bask in the sunshine of that coronet which has been thus ignobly purchased; not to save myself from starvation would I eat a morsel of bread bought with the pension given as a reward for my poor dear sister’s ruin. Farewell, father; I will pray for you morning and night, as heretofore, but your house can no longer be my home.” She paused for a few moments, and cast a rapid look around. In the features of Florimel she read the rapture of that admiration and worship which her noble conduct ex- cited in his soul; in the countenance of the duchess she ob- served an expression of approval which her Grace could not. subdue. But she saw that her father was dogged and morose; while his newly wedded wife, Lady Holderness, stood by his side darting fierce and implacable glances upon the heroic maiden. Then Pauline, advancing toward the Duchess of Devon- shire, said, in a tone of mingled confidence and entreaty, “ Your Grace will afford me an asylum for a few hours until I can repair to the abode of my sister? ” ‘“ Ponder, reflect, Pauline,’ exclaimed Georgiana; ‘ think of the step you are taking.” ‘“ Then you refuse me an asylum?” said the young maiden, (C(O) Anyi ] iS \