Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

164 Pickwick Abroad. as they both hastened into the modest sitting-room which formed a portion of the suste inhabited by them. ‘ My boon will be anted,—the Public Accuser is not so terrible as we were led to elieve, and to-morrow I am to meet him on the terrace of the Tuileries.” “Oh! my dear—dear—unhappy daughter !”’ cried Madame d’ Er- manville, hiding her face with her , and sobbing bitterly ; for her only hope was now placed in a kind Providence. ‘** What, mother ?” exclaimed Marguerite, rising—for she too well comprehended the cause of her parent’s fears; ‘‘do you think that I will now flinch from that duty Ihave imposed upon myself? Do you imagine my heart to be so weak that I will not encounter an danger,—when my poor father’s life is in jeopardy? Full well did know the fatal price that will be required to release my father, and my resolves were—and are still—as inflexible as the ancient laws of the Persians and Medes! He took my hand—lI did not withdraw it: he gazed upon me with an eye of desire, and I refrained from reproach ! Relying on the interposition of Divine Providence, I feel assured I shall remain spotless and chaste.” ‘“‘Noble-minded girl!’ cried Madame d’ Ermanville, whose face was wet with tears wrung from her eyes by feelings of bitterest agony : ‘‘and wouldest thou hazard all thy young hopes and golden dreams, and suffer them to be withered by the glance of a monster! O Mar- guerite—Marguerite—my dear, dear daughter!”’—and the unhappy parent fell upon the neck of her only child, and poured forth the effu- sion of her sorrows on that devoted being’s bosom. ‘‘ Mother,” said the heroic girl, endeavouring to stifle her own grief, the better to soothe her parent’s woes,—‘* mother—dear mother —this is unworthy of you: an imperious necessity urges me onward ; to-morrow will decide the fate of your daughter. Who knows but that, through a gracious Providence, even the flinty heart of Fouquier- Tinville may relent, and that he will assist the sick prisoner on account of his child’s tears, and not at the price of her honour ?”’ ‘Vain hope—alas! dear Marguerite,” sighed Madame d’ Erman- ville, sinking into a seat, and fruitlessly essaying to dry her tears. ‘¢The Public Accuser knows not the name of ‘Mercy.’ That word has long been banished from the political, and even the private dic- tionary of this unhappy land. My heart is nearly broken, Marguerite —but thine, dear child—how will it support all the horrors that are in store for thee ?” ‘“‘Enough—dear mother; terrify me not by gloomy anticipation. I again assure you, as solemnly as if I were standing before my Maker, that nothing can change the determination I have adopted. So, dry those tears, dear mother—stifle those sighs—and remember that your child will render herself worthy of her parents; for she can make that sacrifice which thousands would deem the most deadly of all disgrace !”’ ‘¢ And Emile de Gaston—” said Madame d’ Ermanville. ‘¢Ah! mention not tha¢ name!” cried Marguerite, a fearful pallor overspreading her lovely countenance: ‘‘ him must I renounce for ever !” ‘¢ Poor Emile !” returned the unfortunate mother, as she contem- COL (a) HOOKS (c@