The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

THE RECONCILIATION © 177 ) to hesitate a moment how to answer you,” said Pauline. “Oh, surely, surely you are repentant for the past — ’”’ ‘“ God knows how penitent I am!” ejaculated the young nobleman, fervidly. ‘‘ But it is for you, Pauline, to become my guardian angel, my saving genius; and I will reward you with a love as unbounded and a fidelity as true as your virtues merit.’’. ‘“ Rise, rise, my Gabriel, and be happy!” exclaimed Pau- line, forcing the young nobleman to abandon his suppliant posture. ‘‘ There, seat yourself by my side, and let me hear you converse without an excitement that is painful to us both. The past cannot be recalled, but it may be atoned for, perhaps; and contrition is the first step toward expiation.”’ “You are an angel, Pauline,” cried Florimel, straining the lovely girl to his breast. ‘“ But you little know what remarkable vicissitudes I have experienced since last we met. Disguised as a black page did Caroline Walters enter my service, with a view to achieve my ruin by any means that should present themselves or under any circumstances that might arise to favour her designs. Thus was it that she was enabled to purloin from me certain documents, the loss of which menaced my peerage and my fortune. But the papers were restored to me this morning, Pauline, and I can still place a coronet upon thy brow and make thee the sharer of my wealth. And this reminds me that the persons through whose agency I regained possession of my deeds are the same who delivered you the other day from the power of that vilest of miscreants, — the Prince of Wales. Yes, I have this morning heard all that happened beneath the roof of your treacherous neighbours, the Pages; and you may readily imagine how great was my surprise, how infinite my joy, when I learned that you were residing once more in the very dwelling where we first became acquainted. I lost no time in coming hither, Pauline; and the hopes which animated me have not been disappointed, for, Heaven be praised! we are reconciled once more.” “ And it shall be your fault, my Gabriel, if any further misunderstanding takes place between us,” said Pauline, bending her beauteous eyes affectionately upon her lover’s handsome countenance; “ for, on my part, I can securely promise that never again will I yield to unconfirmed sus- picions or presumptive evidence — ”’ CORE Oe SS) (S©)