The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

340 REYNOLDS’ WORKS should have been deceived! It would have been selling this soul of mine to Satan, and you, perfidious girl, the cause. Ah, though I am married, — and it was as a married man that I dared love you, Christina, — you know not the heart with which you have trifled, and which you have broken. Yet I will not curse you — no, ten thousand times no! I bless you, Christina, and may God grant you with another all that happiness which, if circumstances permitted, it would have been my pride and Joy to ensure you.” The young nobleman made a hasty movement as if to turn abruptly away. Christina, on her part, made a movement as if about to speak, but she could not give utterance to a word. His excitement was moderating into a profound mournfulness, her distress and anguish of mind were rising into a terrible excitement. ‘‘'Yet one word more,” he said, for an instant arresting his own steps, ‘‘and Ihavedone. Forgive me that I blamed you, pardon me that I reproached you. I have been too vehement, too impetuous. I was wrong, Christina, I was wrong. But my feelings hurried me away. Once more, and for the last time, do I pray Heaven to award you its blessing. Yes, may you be happy and blessed.” With these words Lord Octavian disappeared from Chris- tina’s presence. She started forward; his name was at the very tip of her tongue; she was about to call him back, but with such an effort of fortitude as only the purest-minded and most virtuous being could have commanded under such circumstances, she restrained herself, the name was not spoken, and he reappeared not in her presence. ‘Yes, it is better as it 1s,” thought Christina to herself. ‘Let him fancy that I love another, —it will all the more easily wean him from that infatuation which has well-nigh produced such fatal effects upon the amiable Zoe.”’ And now, in a frame of mind that was fraught with a marvellous calmness, with all the pious resignation of a self- sacrificing, self-martyrizing spirit, Christina Ashton reéntered the villa. Lord Octavian Meredith hastened homeward, riding as if he were 2a madman mounted upon a mad steed. On gaining the more frequented parts of the town, he dashed amidst the vehicles with a recklessness which made every one who beheld him think that he was intoxicated with wine. Never- ECORMICLIOO KS (E(0)