The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

314 REYNOLDS’ WORKS were under the influence of feelings tensely wrung, pain- fully wrought up. ‘For what purpose, my lord? ’’ asked our young heroine, and there was a tremulousness in her own voice. | ‘“Not to repeat anything which you may not hear,” he quickly responded. ‘‘ My mind is made up. The reso- lution I have adopted will, I know, afford you satisfaction,” —he paused, and added, “ perhaps pleasure.”’ Christina hesitated for an instant, and then, self-reliant, conscious that she had the power to perform her duty as she had already performed it an hour and a half back on this same evening, she said, “‘ Yes, my lord, I will grant you a few minutes’ private conversation, if you know where we can have it.” She took his arm, and he said not another word as he led her forth from the ballroom to the refreshment-room, where several other ladies and gentlemen were assembled, and two or three were at the time returning from the conservatory, which opened from that apartment. Into this conservatory Meredith led Christina, and we should observe that it was lighted with lamps, for it had been thrown open in order that the guests might admire the choice exotics, the fruit-trees, and the flowers which from tropical climes had been transferred thither. Octavian and Christina were now alone together in the | conservatory, and the young maiden, gently disengaging her hand from her companion’s arm, glanced for a moment at his countenance, as much as to inquire for what purpose she had been brought hither and what he had to communi- cate. “Christina,” he said, ‘‘I have profited by your own noble example. I will not tell you how much I love you — because — because — I have promised that nothing now shall flow from my lips to which you may not listen. Just now I felt as if there were despair in my heart. I came hither, I reflected by myself, I comprehended you, I knew why you seemed cold to me. It was your duty which you were performing. Ah, and you have awakened me to a sense of mine! Yes, my resolve is taken: every sacrifice shall be made for her who has made, and is still making, such immense sacrifices for me. I will not be outdone in generosity, in magnanimity. Christina,’ he added, in CORNICLIIOOKS (E(0)