The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

302 THE. COURT OF LONDON > his lips have I heard many, many painful things. Indeed, if all good feeling be not extinguished within you, and at your age I can scarcely believe it possible that you are so thoroughly inured to crime as to be able to contemplate its paths backward without remorse, and forward without fear —”’ “No, no, we are not so bad as all that,” cried Emma, suddenly catching him by the arm, while her bosom ap- peared to be wrung with convulsive sobs. “God grant that what you say may be true,” exclaimed Bergami, “ but you must all three feel, if you feel anything at all, that an immense atonement is required for the mis- deed whereof you have been guilty. That you could not have naturally become so wicked, so very, very wicked, is certain, and that therefore you have been rendered so by a shocking course oi training, is equally positive. «Indeed, that such was the case I have heard from Mr. Loftus, who, as you are well aware, learned all particulars concerning you from your sister Mary in England. For these reasons, therefore, — 1 mean, viewing you as the instruments that a hideous system of training rendered pliant and ductile with a sort of plastic art to the purposes of the archfiends who are in England, — both Mr. Loftus and myself are in- clined to hold that there is some little extenuation for you. At all events, this is the merciful and compassionate view which Mr. Loftus has thought fit to take of the whole tenor of your conduct, and I do not wish to difier from him. Therefore was it that I commenced by speaking of atone- ment.”’ ‘““Ah! show us what atonement we could make,” said Emma, the words coming apparently clothed in a gush of fervid feelings from the heart, “and you know not how cheerfully we will follow your commands.”’ “Yes, and gratefully, too,” said Agatha, with a voice into which she likewise threw as much feeling as possible. ‘Tf we could only live the last few months over again,” added Julia, “‘ all this would not happen.” ‘‘ Most sincerely do I hope,” continued Bergami, “ that these averments of contrition come from the depths of your hearts. But it is not to me that you should say all this; it is not to me that you are to promise atonement. It is to Mr. Loftus, that young man who is as generous as you ? EORMICLexe) Ss) (E() m i el i ie i / _—_