The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

114 THE STEAM PACKET. © length his importunities grew annoying; and she was under the neces-> sity of desiring him to discontinue his visits. SUL - De Renal fell upon his knees before her, and implored: her to with-- draw the cruel command. Buthis manner and language only induced. her to enforce it with firmness and resolution. He caught hold of her’ hand, and endeavoured to convey it to his lips: she repulsed him with rudeness and contempt. The surgeon—all hell mustering in his soul— © rose from his suppliant posture, cast a look of demoniac malignity upon the unhappy Marie, who trenibled beneath that ferocious glance, and said’ in a low, stern, and hoarse voice, while his teeth almost ground toge-' ther, and his brows were knit, —‘* Proud and scornful woman, thou shalt not trample upon him who dares to love thee! Inacorner of this. old mansion—beneath the floor ofa closet adjoining the oratory—is the corpse of a young child: on whom would the stain of murder appear to rest with greater probability than on its mother, who thus extin- guished the proof of a guilty amour ?” 3 _ De Renal was striding rapidly towards the door of the apartment i In which this scene took place, when Marie sprang forward, caught him by the arm, and said in a strange but decided tone,—*‘ Stay! ! I cannot bear the stigma you would throw upon me! I’m not afraid to die; but to die with the character of murderess—never ! What conta will purchase your silence ?”’ “Your love!” answered the surgeon, a delirium of hope agitating his brain. | “My love can never be given to mortal man again,” said Marie: ‘but what you call love—what you understand by my love—the gratification of your passion—shall be yours. Say—is that the an chase-money of your secrecy ? ” ‘¢ Be it so,” rejoined the surgeon, who did not Sbaeneeat in the wild- ness of his suddenly-created joy, the calm irony which pervaded the language and tone of the pale but beauteous woman who clung to his. arm: “be it so,” he repeated, his eyes radiant with the anticipation of happiness. - Be it so,” echoed Marie; fiver in a more hurried tone she added, ‘‘ to-night, at eleven o’clock, [ will receive thee. But seek not ingress by the gates of the dwelling: my faithful old dependant would become aware of my disgrace and shame. The window of my own apartment overlooks the wall of the churchyard ; you can scale that wall—need I say more ?” ‘1 comprehend you, beloved one!” ejaculated the surgeon, and he extended his arms to embrace her. — : - 4 > ¥ 99 Eomichbooks:. co