The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

are p ip emneseeeaessneemenpenmenemetiineseanntnedeneneeee THE SEAMSTRESS. 47 will give me credit for the most honourable intea- | that handsome and fascinating youth te whom she tions —the most sincere motives —in beseeching you to afford me an opportunity of rendering my character, my disposition, and my views better known to you. Ido not ask you to permit me to Visit you——” Virginia started—blushed deeply once more— and abruptly withdrew the hand which the young Marquis had for a few instants retained in his own. “Oh! how unfortunate I am!” he cried: “I have offended you again. But I take heaven to Witness my sincerity when I declare that such was not my intention! What can I do—what can I say, to convince you, sweet girl, that I have become inspired with feelings towards you such as I never | knew before? Howean I secure your esteem ?— how win your friendship °” “By permitting me to proceed upon my errand, sir,” replied Virginia, in a cold tone: and she was turning away, when her heart smote her with a sudden pang—for she felt, or at least thought, that she was behaving with ingratitude towards a young gentleman who had risked his life to save her own. She accordingly extended her hand to him, saying in a tremulous voice, “ Do not think me ungrateful, sir—do not fancy that Iam unmindful of the im- mense obligation I owe you: but be generous— and look upon me as a friendless orphan having no other fortune in the world than her own good name!” There was a deep and touching pathos in her looks, her tone, and her manner as she thus feel- ingly addressed the young Marquis;—and, as he beheld the lovely girl, blushing and trembling in his presence, and with delicacy, softness, and sensi- bility characterizing every feature of her interesting countenance, he forgot his rank—his position—his family, and yielded only to the impulse of his en- raptured soul. “Tf it be a crime to love you, sweet girl, then assuredly am I very culpable,” he said, in a low but fervent tone; “and if the offer of an honourable affection be insulting to you, then must I at allrisks dare your displeasure. Do not think lightly of what I say—do not regard my words as a mere passing compliment——” “ T must not listen to you any more!” exclaimed Virginia, her voice and manner showing that she was deeply moved: and she hurried away. But at the next moment he was by her side again. “We cannot part thus!” he said, in a tone of decision. “Not for worlds will I attempt to follow you—not for worlds insult you by endeayouring to ascertain your abode. But I must see you again, sweet girl—my happiness depends upon it—and I implore you not to plunge me into despair.” _ Virginia was naturally confiding, artiess, and un- suspicious of evil: and indeed the young nobleman _ meant none at that moment, He had not paused to analyse his own feelings: but he was hurried _ along by an irresistible tide of emotions such as he had never experienced before. The sincerity of his language and the ingenuousness of his manner failed not to produce their influence upon the maiden: and indeed, she would have been something less or something more than woman, had she remained altogether insensible to the earnest pleadings of already lay under such deep and signal obligations. ! She accordingly paused once more, and remained a prey to the embarrassment and perplexity of a cruel Indecision. * What do you require of me?” she at length asked, with eyes bent down and with blushing cheeks. “That you will repose in me such confidence ’@s @ sister may place in a brother,” teplied Charles; '*and that you will afford me the pleasure of es- corting you for a walk in the neighbouring park to-morrow—or next day—or whenever it may please you.” “The day after to-morrow,” murmured the young maiden, ‘‘at the same hour, I will pass this way.” And she fled precipitately: for scarcely had the words issued from her lips, when she was struck by aremorse that went to her very heart’s core, as if she had just been perpetrating a crime! CHAPTER XIV. MEDITATIONS. Hayine discharged the commission which had taken her to Spring Gardens, Virginia Mordaunt retraced her way to ‘Tavistock Street ;—and on arriving at the house in which she dwelt, the young maiden proceeded to the chamber of Miss Barnet. For she had resolved to communicate to her friend all that had just occurred, and solicit her advice how to act in respect to the appointment which, in the perplexity of her ideas and the agitation of her feelings, she had made with her youthful deliverer. But the moment that Virginia knocked at the door of Miss Barnet’s chamber, this young female came forth, apparelled in one of those elegant dresses which she had displayed to our heroine on the first occasion of their acquaintance ;—and, placing her finger upon her lip with an arch expres- sion of countenance, she said in a subdued tone, “I can’t ask you in, Virginia dear, just at present; because I am expecting a certain person.” “TI beg your pardon for intruding upon you, Julia,’ observed Miss Mordaunt: “I fancied you were disengaged—and——” “And you meant to drop in and have half-an- hour’s chat with me?” exclaimed Miss Barnet, suddenly finishing Virginia’s sentence for her, * Well—so you should—and most happy would I be: only Mr. Osmond sent me a note this morning, promising faithfully to call in the afternoon—and indeed, I am somewhat surprised that he is not already here.” * Well—another time,” observed the young seam- stress, thereby meaning that she would defer to a future occasion whatever she had to communicate to her friend: and she hurried up to her own chamber. The garret was not quite so cheerless as when we first introduced our readers thither: for a handful of fire was now burning in the grate—and by the help of a few sticks, Virginia made it blaze up sufli- ciently to boil the water for her tea. spread her little table, and sate down to the frugal meal, Conniclooolk Then she — (SO)