The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 331: what you’re looking at

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314 REYNOLDS’ WORKS speaking frankly and ingenuously. ‘‘ But does Francis know that you love him? Have you told him so? ” “Not tn words— not in words,” responded Juliana, ‘but in looks, by the eyes, and by the thousand and one little signs and evidences in which love even unwillingly and unconsciously betrays itself. Do not think, Constance, that all on a sudden I abandoned myself to this passion; do not imagine that the moment I felt its influence I gave it free rein and permitted it to bear me away like a courser that I could stop if I chose, but would not. No, I can assure you, my dear girl, that I wrestled against it. I struggled, and being then deeply imbued with the prejudices in which I had been reared, I also felt humiliated in my own eyes. My pride was hurt, my dignity was offended, I felt indeed as 1f I were touching upon the threshold of a crime. But the power of love has risen triumphant above all such false notions and wretched artificialities. When I have surveyed that beautiful youth, I have felt — oh, I have felt — that there is no sacrifice I could not accomplish for his sake. Think of all the young noblemen and gentlemen who frequent our saloons, Constance, and tell me one whose voice possesses a sweeter music than that of Francis Paton. Think of them all again, scan them one by one, pass them in review through your mind, and tell me if your thoughts can settle upon any individual amongst them whose counte- nance is endowed with so sublime and intelligent a beauty. As for gentility, is he not exquisitely genteel, even in that menial garb which he wears? JDoes it not become him as well as the scarlet uniform upon the tightly laced figure of the young military fop? Strip him of that menial garb, let him be apparelled in the plain but fashionable clothes of a gentleman, and what evidence of his plebeian origin will remain? Besides, after all, who knows that his origin is plebeian at all? For I believe, from what ! have heard, it is involved in much obscurity. He was at first a page at court, but was suddenly removed, he himself scarcely knows why, and it was Lord Petersfield wno recommended him to our mother. To a certain extent there is a sort of mystery hanging over him, —a mystery which first attracted my interest, inspired me with sympathy, and led me on to love.”’ ‘And Heaven grant, my dear sister,” replied Constance, Gomicbooks (E(0)