The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

ANOTHER PHASE OF DEPRAVITY 81 not the mistress of my own feelings, I cannot control my own actions. I have conceived for you a passion that is in itself a frenzy — ”’ ‘‘ Miss Owen, I dare hear no more,” said Jocelyn, reso- lutely and almost sternly. ‘‘ Let it suffice for you to learn and for me to declare that I love another.” ‘“ Ah! wretch that I am!” she cried, with a faint shriek. ‘ T eannot endure to live! By all that is sacred, I swear — ”’ “Take no rash vow, calm yourself, tranquillize your feelings,” exclaimed Jocelyn, cruelly embarrassed by this scene, and deeply, deeply regretting he had kept the ap- pointment; but more than half-suspecting that her frenzied manner was only feigned, he said, ‘‘ Remember how indis- creet, how unladylike, how unmaidenly it is on your part, thus to address a young man who is almost a stranger to you.” ‘“ A stranger!” cried Emma, hysterically, as she clung with force to his arm. ‘“‘ No, no; I am as well acquainted with you as if I had known you all my life. Yours are qualities so resplendent that they take one by surprise, and seize, as it were, upon the very heart. You must not blame me for what I have done, for what I am doing. Why did you throw yourself in my way? Why did you seek our com- panionship in this journey? It was not I who sought you in the first instance. Had you been a stranger passing me in the street, and if I had accosted you, you would have been justified in spurning me from your presence; but it was far different. You introduced yourself, as it were, to me, you shone upon me in all the glory of your beautiful person and your brillant mind, and you snatched away my heart. It was not taken slowly and insidiously, it was ravished all ina moment. And can I help this love, this immeasurable love, with which you have inspired me? Is it my fault that I have succumbed to the magic of that voice and those looks the influence of which has been shed upon me? And you — cruel that you are— you reproach me for telling you that state of mind into which you yourself have plunged me! ) Then, apparently exhausted by this torrent of words which she had poured out with passionate vehemence, Kimma Owen sank upon a bench and gave way to a flood of equally violent weeping. ) CONNIE OOO a <S (CO)