The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

MAKEPEACE 189 tremendous weight of care. As he appeared from behind the screen, Ethel gave a slight start, but far stronger was that spasmodic shock as it was experienced inwardly. The young Earl of Lascelles took a chair opposite to her; their looks had only met for an instant, and were then averted with a mutual and simultaneous feeling of immense and indescribable horror. | ‘“‘ How long is this state of things to continue?” asked Adolphus, at the expiration of more than a minute’s contin- ued silence, and speaking in a voice that sounded hollow and sepulchral. “What mean you?” inquired Ethel, and for an instant her eyes flashed loathingly and abhorrently upon him whom she had once adored with so strong and devouring a passion. ‘““T mean, Ethel,’’ answered the young earl, “‘ that we are leading a life which is breaking our hearts and hurrying us to the grave, that the domestics of the household will not much longer entertain the belief that it is affliction for the lost one that is devouring us, and that all this is produced by your obstinacy. For if you would but confess, I would pardon you ,—yes, by Heaven, I would pardon you, although we should separate the next moment.” ‘““ Coward, thus to persecute a helpless woman,” exclaimed Kthel. “ It is for you to confess, then I will pardon you; and as you have said, we will separate on the instant. Do you imagine that even if by thus haunting me like a ghost, you drive me mad, and elicit from me in my frenzy the avowal of a crime which I did not commit, — do you imagine, I ask, that if you were thus to succeed in your diabolic pur- pose, you will deceive that Heaven whose eye penetrates into the secret recesses of your heart? Are you so insensate as to suppose that you can virtually and actually shift the burden of the crime from your own conscience and hurl it upon mine? ”’ ‘Enough, Ethel,” exclaimed Adolphus, fiercely; “it is | who ought to put all these questions to you. Why do you remain here to haunt me? ”’ ‘““T will remain here,” answered the countess, ‘ until I shall have compelled you to admit your horrible guilt to me.” “ And I will remain here,” rejoined the young earl, ‘‘ until I have brought a vile woman to reason.”’ | EOMIGIOOKS (CO)