The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

246 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Angela Vivaldi did not immediately attempt to console the poor girl. She knew that this outpouring of affliction would disburden her heart of the severity of the woe that weighed upon it. But at length she said, in that soft and gentle voice which makes woman a ministering angel even unto one of her own sex, “ Tell me what it is that afflicts you, and perhaps it will be in my power to alleviate your sorrow.” “Oh, signora!’”’ exclaimed Henrietta Leyden, suddenly removing her hands from her countenance and gazing with her tearful eyes upon the eminently beautiful features on which she read an expression of the sincerest sympathy, ‘it is so hard to be compelled to dance when the soul is filled with anguish. Besides, it seems to be such a dreadful mockery to play one’s part in a performance that is intended only for the gay and happy, when the heart is ready to break.”’ ‘““And is such your case, poor girl?’”’ asked Angela, upon whose long dark lashes the diamond tear-drops were now slittering. ‘““ Alas, yes!’ was the mournful reply. ‘‘ It was in the middle of the ballet that I was seized with such a sudden sensation of indescribable woe, as the contrast was all in a moment forced upon my mind between the brilliant scene spreading out before me and the sorrowful one which I had left at home, and to which I am about to return.” “Now tell me your name, and everything that relates to you,” said Angela, in the kindest and most soothing manner. Henrietta answered the question by giving those few particulars concerning her mother and her brother which we have already lightly sketched forth; then she added, with a sudden outburst of impassioned feeling, ‘“ Ah! signora, it is not only cruel to suffer thus, but dreadful to think that through such sufferings the gold of the tempter often prevails. I have resisted hitherto, but Heaven alone knows — ”’ She stopped suddenly short, and cast down her eyes in shame at having even so far given an expression to the dread apprehension that there was a possibility of her ultimately succumbing. “Miss Leyden,’ said the eminent danseuse, taking Gomichbooks (E(0)