The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 396: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXVII ANOTHER SCENE IN THE GARDEN Ir was about a week after the incidents just related, and again, at the hour of sunset, must we look into the spacious grounds attached to the villa residence on the outskirt of Geneva. There, in one of the most secluded nooks of the enclosure, shall we behold Miss Julia Owen, — the youngest of the three sisters, — emerging from a shady avenue and looking hastily up and down the gravel walk which she now entered. Observing that the coast was clear, she continued her way toward a garden-seat placed against the boundary wall at the extremity of the gravel walk, and flinging her- self on the bench, she consulted a watch which she took from her bosom. “Tis close upon the hour when he promised to meet me,”’ she murmured to herself. ‘‘ But wherefore is it that I am thus before the time? Ah! ’tis because I love him, because he is handsome, yes, nobly handsome.”’ | And then the young lady suddenly gave the rein to her Imagination, which was hot and fervid as that of her two elder sisters; and allowing her fancy thus to run riot in conjuring up the joys which she believed might be experienced in the arms of the individual whose image was uppermost in her thoughts, she became the prey to longings as ardent and desires as devouring as those of a Messalina. Although it was the hour of sunset the heat was stifling; no breeze came from the mountains in the distance, nor ruffled the surface of the lake that lay sleeping tranquilly in its mighty bed. The frenetic fervour of Julia’s unruly passions made the blood course with the fury of fever-heat in its crimson channels; and to obtain air she threw off her bonnet and shawl, thus remaining in the elegant evening 363 CoOnnicloooks (C(O)