Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

MRS. BRACE AND HER VISITORS 359 you have assured me that her sister Pauline is already engaged in a love-intrigue on her part—” ~— “No, not exactly an intrigue,’’ exclaimed Mrs. Brace; ‘‘ because she triumphed over the temptation of the moment, and reduced her admirer Florimel to as sickly a state of sentimentality as ever I had the misfortune to contemplate.”’ “And is he not recovered from that condition?’ de- manded the prince. “Far from it. I saw him yesterday, and he was devising a thousand schemes to obtain a formal introduction to the Clarendon family, so that he may visit them on a proper footing and in due time propose for the younger daughter.”’ “This must not be, Fanny,’”’ said his Royal Highness. “Should Lord Florimel become the husband of Pauline, a sense of honour will induce him to rescue Octavia from this intrigue, — and such a proceeding will by no means suit me. I am really desperately enamoured of this girl, and cannot part from her yet awhile. Is Florimel incurable with his sentimentality? ”’ “It would be at least a very difficult matter to effect such a cure,’ answered the milliner. ‘‘ He has taken a solemn vow to abjure what he now calls his profligate life; he has sworn to forbear from all intrigue; in fine, he has resolved to become worthy of possessing the innocent, amiable, and virtuous Pauline. Those are his very words.”’ ‘This is nauseating in the extreme,” observed the prince, in a tone of unfeigned disgust; for the royal voluptuary could not understand the existence of such a pure and holy feeling as that which Pauline had awakened in the breast of Lord Florimel. ‘I am not acquainted with the young nobleman, or I might perhaps undertake the task of making him sensible of his folly in yielding to such maudlin emotions. But you, my dear Fanny— _ Now, tell me candidly,” he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting himself, “has anything beyond mere friendship ever yet existed between you and Lord Florimel? ”’ “Nothing —on my honour!” answered Mrs. Brace, emphatically. “Then it is for you to take the young nobleman in hand, and subdue him,” rejoined the prince. ‘‘ Do you compre- hend me? Yes, by the blush that rises to your cheeks, I perceive that you not only understand me, but that the cS (S©) CORMICLO©