The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

50 THE COURT OF LONDON therefore shall I unveil my thoughts upon a certain sub- ject — ”’ : She paused, and for a moment Valentine Malvern gazed upon her with surprise and curiosity, for he was naturally at a loss to conjecture what secret could be cherished in the bosom of a maiden who was not only so artless and so inno- cent, but who had likewise come so little in contact with the world. ‘“ Ah! I perceive that you are already astonished at my words,’ said Florence, in a gayer tone, but yet with a half- subdued sigh, ‘‘ and when I explain myself, you will doubt- less think that I am very foolish, perhaps very wrong, to allow the incident to which I allude to produce such an impression upon my mind. But in a few words can I explain myself.” Malvern was evidently listening with the utmost attention, and Florence proceeded in the following manner: ‘’ Four months have elapsed since the occurrence of which I am about to speak. At that time my aunt took me to St. James’s Palace to view the State Apartments. In the Royal Closet we accidentally encountered the prince regent, who immediately appeared strangely excited on beholding me. Suddenly drawing forth a small miniature, he gazed upon it with a mingled melancholy and tenderness that I never can forget. It also seemed as if there were something like the agony of remorse in that expression which thus swept over his countenance, and methought tnat he compared the portrait which so deeply moved him with my features. I felt amazed, and even startled, and feelings so strange and unaccount- able that I cannot possibly describe them sprang up in my soul. The prince took my hand and said, ‘ Pardon me, pardon me, young lady, but you suddenly reminded me of a dear friend now no more.’ The words, as well as the look that accompanied them, have remained indelibly impressed upon my memory. At the time they filled me with con- fusion, and almost overwhelmed: me with dismay, for the hand of the prince trembled violently as he held mine, and he gazed upon me as if actually asking pardon for some fault which he had committed, or some injury that he had done me. I forgot at the moment that he was a prince, and the feeling of awe inspired by his rank being thus tem- porarily suspended, I experienced a sudden but boundless ECORNIClIOO KS (E(0) m