The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

74 REYNOLDS’ WORKS it was that I purposed to give back your ring, and to demand mine.” ‘Take back your ring, Bertram,” said Eliza, in a low, tremulous voice, and now it seemed to her that she was about to sever the very last feeble tie which in any way connected her with an Elysian past, and as she spoke, she slowly drew forth the ring from her bosom. ‘“‘ Ah,” ejaculated Bertram Vivian, a wild joy flashing suddenly in his eyes, “‘ you have kept it there, next to your heart. Oh, then, Eliza, you have not ceased to love me, even when becoming another’ si ‘‘ Bid the flower divest itself of its fragrance, bid the ereen plant put off its verdure of its own accord,” she an- swered, solemnly, ‘‘ and it is commanding impossibilities. Bid the waters of that fountain cease to well upward while the motive power is there, and it were also commanding what cannot be done. Think not therefore that my heart could put away that love which has become as inseparable from it in life as the fragrance is from the flower or the verdure from the plant while the warm season lasts. Think not either that it is in my power to still the feelings which rise upward from the hidden springs of my soul.’’ There was a holy solemnity, a sanctified pathos, in Eliza’s tone as she thus spoke, and as her words ceased, she proffered the ring which she had drawn forth from her bosom. ‘No, Eliza, no,’’ exclaimed Bertram, with renewed ex- citement. ‘I will not take it back. Whatever henceforth we may be to each other, and that perhaps is as nothing,”’ he added, bitterly, “‘ still, still shall you retain the pledge of my love, as I will keep the pledge of yours. There can be no sin in this.’ ‘“‘T will keep it, Bertram,’”’ answered the duchess, after a few moments’ hesitation, and she consigned the Ting back to its resting-place next her heart. ‘Oh, but if all this be possible,” abruptly exclaimed Bertram Vivian, as fresh ideas came sweeping through his mind, but replete with newly awakened suspicion and mis- trust, all the force and anguish of which were at the same instant reflected in his countenance, “‘ how was it, Eliza, that you bestowed your hand upon mine own uncle? Did it not strike you that there was something to shock the purity of the feelings — 39 Gomicbooks (E(0)