The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

BLOOMFIELD 241 actually a conciliatory smile upon her lips, there was at all events a softness of mien that contrasted strikingly with her aspect at their last interview. “ Ethel! ’’ exclaimed the young earl, hastening toward her, ‘your look renders me happier than I have been for some time past. I see that you intend to be reasonable; we are to deliberate calmly and in a friendly sense. We are not to meet for altercation as enemies, battling as it were for sepa- rate and divided interests, but we are to take counsel to- gether for what may be best suited for us both.”’ ‘“‘ Such is the spirit, Adolphus, in which I meet you this morning,” answered Ethel, and she did now really smile sweetly though faintly; it was with a melancholy sweetness, and at the same time she proffered him her hand. “ Dearest Ethel, I love you still,’ he exclaimed, seizing that hand and conveying it to his lips. “ Forgive me if last night I uttered things which were harsh, if I spoke of our love as something which had gone by, never to be recalled.” ‘And I also, Adolphus,” responded the countess, suffering him to retain her hand without the slightest effort to with- draw it, — “‘ I also must crave your forgiveness for the ap- parent implacability with which I urged a point that my better reason subsequently showed to be impossible of realization. There have been faults on both sides; let us cast a veil over them.”’ Nothing could exceed the joy with which Adolphus listened to these words. He all of a sudden felt himself to be completely safe; his triumph was ensured with far less trouble than he had anticipated. In the enthusiasm of his feelings, — which the reader must not however mistake for a re- viving love toward Ethel, — he snatched her in his arms and strained her to his breast. For a few moments she thus abandoned herself to him, and though she received the kisses which he imprinted upon her cheeks, she gave them not back again with her own lips. “Now, dearest Ethel,’’ said Adolphus, as she gently disengaged herself from his arms, “ let us sit down and con- verse quietly and amicably, lovingly too, — for may I not flatter myself that you have been reflecting upon the pro- posal I made to you last night? ”’ “Yes,” she responded, and she sat down by his side. ‘““Again must I assure you, my dear Adolphus,”’ she con- CORNICLOOOKS (CO)