Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

3/8 THE COURT OF LONDON reflections are a sufficient punishment to me for having been wicked and insane enough to link you to the side of a corpse? ’’ he added, in a tone of ineffable anguish. “My God! talk not to me thus, my lord!’ interrupted the countess, with a shudder that was now painfully visible; and for a moment she turned deadly pale. Then the warm blood rushed to her cheeks as if she were ashamed at her own conduct. ‘“ Pray sit down, Francis,’ she said, forcing herself to assume a milder tone, and addressing her husband by his Christian name. “Merciful heavens! what would I give to purchase an unvaried continuation of this kindness of manner which you have just shown toward me! ”’ he said, evidently touched to his very heart’s core even by that faint scintillation of a better feeling on the part of the woman whom he worshipped, whom he loved so madly. ‘“ And would to God that I could always exercise a suff- cient control over myself to enable me to treat you with that kindness which you seek to deserve at my hands,” exclaimed Eleanor, gazing on him with a profound com- miseration. “ Oh, Iam ungrateful, very ungrateful, Francis; I know that I am!” she continued, carried away by the sudden enthusiasm with which a sense of duty had inspired her. ‘‘ You surround me with all the elements of happiness, my slightest wish is anticipated, my very path is paved with gold, and my relatives have been enriched by your bounty; and yet I am cold, reserved, cruel toward you, Francis, and you bear it all without a murmur! Oh, forgive me, my husband, forgive me!”’ she cried, throwing herself on her knees at his feet, and joining her white hands im- ploringly. ‘‘ Forgive me, I say, and in future I will endeavour to prove grateful and kind, as you yourself are generous and good.”’ The earl started from the seat which he had taken, and for a few moments was so bewildered and amazed by this proceeding on the part of his wife that he knew not how to act nor what to say. His fine, tall, manly form, of noble proportions and commanding air, was drawn up to its full height; and his large handsome blue eyes were bent upon the beauteous woman who thus knelt before him as a weeping suppliant. For the tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her red lips, parted with the beseeching expression GoOmicdooks (E(@)