The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

78 REYNOLDS’ WORKS unknown, but irresistible influence of which you have spoken. The finger of Heaven was in it. It was decreed that the evidences of my constancy, my fidelity, my un- perished and imperishable love, should survive your father, that those evidences should not constitute a secret to die with him, but that they should exist to meet your eyes, and convince you that Bertram Vivian was true to his plight.” ‘And do you still mean to reproach me?” asked Eliza, in tones that were scarcely audible, while the tears rained down her cheeks. ‘“ It is cruel, Bertram, it is unkind, after all the explanations I have given you. Methought that you were ere now satisfied of — of — my own imperishable love, when you saw that I carried your ring next to my heart? ”’ “‘ Eliza, 1 have wronged you,’’ exclaimed Vivian, who throughout this long and painful interview had been moved by a thousand different and conflicting impulses. ‘‘ Pardon — forgive me. My conduct has not only been unkind; it is brutal, cowardly, base. You have been a victim — I see it all. May Heaven have mercy upon us both! ”’ ‘‘ And now, Bertram,’’ asked Eliza, at length coming to the question which she had foreseen must be put, ‘‘ what is to be done? How will you act? ” ‘“What mean you? ”’ he demanded, abruptly, a wild joy flashing in his eyes. ‘“ Would you — ” ‘‘ Bertram, Bertram,”’ almost shrieked forth Eliza, as she read what was passing in his mind. “ No, there is one sac- rifice I cannot make for you, and this is the sacrifice of my duty to my husband. I would lay down my life for you, but not for worlds would I prove faithless to the vows of duty, constancy, and obedience which I pledged to him whose name I bear.” ‘‘ Eliza, forgive me, pardon me, I beseech you,” said Ber- tram, in a tone and with a look of deepest, most humiliating contrition. ‘If for an instant I yielded to the wild, the thrilling, the impossible hope which flashed to my mind, it was not that I could deliberately insult the purity of your character. No, no! Heaven forbid that I should prove a villain, that I should brand myself as a wretch — No, no, I will not.” He seized the hand of the duchess as he thus enthu- siastically spoke, and pressed it with convulsive violence. ‘“ Bertram,” she said, in a low, soft voice, as she gently Gomichbooks (E(0)