The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

THE APPOINTMENT 5D assured you that I am already overcome with shame? Spare me, I beseech you! ”’ ‘T will,’ he answered, ‘ because to-night you will be mine, altogether mine. But you will not come cold and inanimate, coy and reluctant, to my arms? It must not be a marble statue that I am to enfold in my embrace. No, you must come glowing with passion and with ardour —” “Speak not thus, speak not thus!” interrupted Kate, trembling, perhaps shuddering from head to foot. ‘‘ Oh, there is something shocking in the idea of talking thus in the broad daylight, when the sun is shining. But to-night, when darkness shall be upon the face of the earth, and when in the midst of darkness also I shall meet you, — then it may be different; then, perhaps, the plunge being resolved upon, I shall more than resign myself to my fate — ”’ “Oh, I understand you, I understand you,” exclaimed the iibidinous minister, literally trembling with the ardour of his passion. ‘“‘ You will be all that I require? But what meant you by those words you have just spoken, that in the midst of darkness we shall meet? ”’ ‘‘T mean this,” answered Kate, still speaking with averted looks, and with a countenance crimsoned up to the very hair of her head, ‘‘ that inasmuch as IJ never again can look you in the face without dying of shame, and inasmuch as you have promised that whatsoever arrangement may be sug- gested to spare my feelings shall be carried out, I have to stipulate that the only condition on which I will come is to the effect that we do meet in darkness; and that for the hour which I shall remain with you, your Excellency swears as a man of honour, by everything sacred in heaven, and in fear of everything terrible in Satan’s kingdom, that you will not attempt to kindle lamp nor candle for the purpose of looking me in the face.”’ ‘“ No, no, I will not do it,’”’ answered the minister. ‘I will obey your behest in all things.” “You swear?’’ demanded Kate. “IT swear,’’ responded the minister. “ You swear,’’ she repeated, ‘‘ as solemnly and as fearfully as I ere now indicated? ”’ . ‘“ I swear by all my hopes of hereafter,’’ was the rejoinder vehemently given. ‘ And understand me well,’’ continued Kate, still speaking )) CONNIE DOOKS (S(O)