The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

138 THE COURT OF LONDON image is enshrined. The artificialities with which rank and wealth have surrounded us have not cestroyed all natural feelings within me. Besides, you know, Venetia, you can belheve me when I declare that I should have been happier had we on the day .of our marriage retired to some humble and secluded cottage, rather than have plunged into the brilliancies, the elegancies, and the luxuries of a court life. But having been compelled, as it were, to accept this latter destiny, it was better to yield to the force of the torrent and give way to all pleasure and profligacies, if only for the sake of drowning regretiul or remorseful thoughts.” ‘Ah! my dear Horace,” said Venetia, gently passing one of her arms around his neck and drawing him toward her, ‘‘ this is one of those scenes of tenderness which a husband and wife in our condition ought to avoid, and which never- theless has its soothing influences, its ecstasies of pleasing pain, its paroxysms of torturing bliss. Yes, dear Horace, though shame be upon either brow, though when inspired by the best feelings of our nature, we dare not look each other in the face, and though now, as your-cheek is pillowed against mine, each one burns with the flush of shame, neverthe- less we are not indifferent to each other; and to me the thought is harrowing that in a few short hours thine hand- some form may become rigid, thine eyes closed in the sleep of death. No, no, this duel must not be!’ she added, with passionate vehemence. “But my honour will be compromised,” said Horace. ““Candidly speaking, Venetia, I am no coward, I do not shrink from death, and were I compelled to go forth with an army to battle, it would be in the foremost ranks I should be found. But I freely confess that it is hard, yes, it is hard, to stand the chance of being thus cut off in my earliest prime, when rank, honours, and wealth have only just begun to lavish their favours upon me. Besides, Venetia, of the two courses whieh are open to every man in this life, namely, the good and the bad, I have chosen the latter, and for this sacrifice of all my bettermost feelings, the only compensation can be found in a long life of pleasure and enjoyment. ‘These are the reasons which almost render me a coward when I think of this duel. And then, Curzon, too,’ he added, “is a matchless shot, so experienced with the pistol that — ” “Oh, your words freeze the blood in my veins,” cried CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)