The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

BLOOMFIELD 245 tion to the fact of Isabella having fallen in with Christian, and brief was the comment which Adolphus made upon the subject. ‘‘ Now that we have agreed,” he said, ‘‘ to bid defiance to the world and set its opinion at nought, and now too, dearest Ethel, that you are improving in health and spirits, and the time must be near at hand when you will throw yourself into my arms again, it were all the better that Isabella should find a home elsewhere. Let her marry young Ashton; we will make them a handsome allowance, and at the same time that we thus rid ourselves of Isabella, we shall be perform- ing all our duty toward her.”’ Ethel assented, and the subject at once dropped. After breakfast one morning, when Adolphus and the countess had been about a week at Bloomfield, she said to the young earl, with smiling countenance and caressing look, ‘‘ You are indeed most kind to devote so much of your time to me — I may say all your time.” ‘You see, Ethel,’ he answered, ‘‘ that I study my best to ensure your happiness. But when will you be altogether mine again? ”’ for he was anxious to rivet as soon as possible the bonds which held them together, though at the same time careful to avoid the appearance of tyrannizing over her actions or in any way forcing her inclinations. ‘Soon, dearest Adolphus,’’ she responded, inclining her head upon his shoulder, “‘soon,—for you are becoming dear to me again — yes, very dear.” “Ts it indeed so, Ethel?’ he exclaimed, with a gush of feeling that might very well have been taken for the real joy of love itself, whereas it was only the satisfaction of hope at the idea that she would soon be so completely his slave again as to be beyond the reach of any latent inclination that might still exist to proclaim the whole truth to the world according to her proposition a week back at the mansion in the suburbs of London. “ Yes, dearest Adolphus,” she responded, still suffering her head to recline upon his shoulder, “ I love you — and, when you will,’ she murmuringly added, “I will be yours again — yours wholly.” Adolphus encircled the lady’s slender waist with his arm, drew her face toward him, and imprinted kisses upon it. Whether it were indeed the country air, together with the EGOMINIGIOOKS (CO)