The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

80 THE COURT OF LONDON duct his fair companion into one of the less frequented paths; and indeed they soon found themselves entirely alone in a secluded avenue of trees. Emma was elegantly dressed, and looked truly beautiful. The morning air and the inward fluttering of her feelings heightened the colour upon her cheeks and appeared to enhance the lustre of her eyes. Few men could have been stoical enough to resist the artillery of such charms; but Jocelyn loved his absent Louisa with the purest, holiest, and most fervid passion, and such a love is an armour of proof for him who experiences it. ‘““T have read your note with much attention, Miss Owen, and with unfeigned pleasure,” he began, determined to take her at her word precisely as she had expressed herself in her communication. ‘You have resolved to resign your appointment, your eldest sister is prepared, you tell me, to adopt a similar course, but Miss Julia cannot so easily abandon a post which she doubtless considers to be invested with briliancy and honour. Mrs. Ranger is obstinately opposed to the course I have pointed out, and she perhaps exercises considerable influence over Miss Julia’s mind. Is this the actual position of the affair? ”’ “Tt is,’ replied Emma. Then, gazing up fondly in Jocelyn’s face, she said, in a low and tremulous tone, “ It was a fatal day, Mr. Loftus, when you first resolved upon your present enterprise, however generous and even chivalric may have been your motive.” “What do you mean, Miss Owen?” he demanded, sur- veying her in astonishment. ‘“T mean, Mr. Loftus, — and I implore you to hear me with attention,”’ she cried, grasping his arm firmly with her elegantly gloved hand, as if she were fearful that he would escape her, — ‘‘ I mean that you have deprived me of my peace of mind, of all my hopes of happiness in this world. You have extirpated one idea from my soul, but you have implanted another there, which is indelible. You have destroyed the dream of grandeur which I had pictured to myself in connection with my appointment to the little court of her Royal Highness; and you have left in the place of that golden vision the image of yourself. Oh, start not, attempt not to withdraw your arm, you must and you shall hear me! ”’ she exclaimed, with a wild energy. ‘ For | am EONNICLICKO KSEE)