The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IV MONSIEUR VOLNEY THE weather was beautiful, and soon after breakfast the two ladies walked forth together. Zoe now perceived that Clarine was more pensive than even while at the breakfast- table, or at least that she struggled less arduously to veil it,— probably because she had been most anxious to conceal her feelings, whatsoever they were, from her father’s observation. ‘My dear Clarine,’’ said Lady Octavian, at length, ‘“‘ there is something preying upon your mind.” Clarine gave the sudden start of one who cherished a secret which had just been surprised, or rather the existence of which had just been detected, though the secret itself re- mained still locked up in her own bosom. She glanced with an air of anxiety toward Zoe, then bent down her looks, and said nothing, but tears gushed from her eyes. ‘“ My dear friend,’”’ continued Lady Octavian, in the kind- est manner, ‘‘ you yesterday assured me that if for my own sorrows a friendship could afford a balm, I possessed yours. It is now for me to reciprocate the assurance. See, here is the very bank on which we sat down yesterday when I gave you the complete narrative of my own causes of grief. Let it to-day become the scene of that confidence which you will repose in me. I will not so far insult myself, nor insult your own good feeling, Clarine, by saying more than simply to remark that it is from no motive of mere idle curiosity I[ speak.”’ ‘““T know it, my dear friend, I know it,’’ murmured Clarine, and then from her lips escaped a gush of mental anguish which she could not possibly keep back. Lady Octavian Meredith said whatsoever she could think of to console her friend, but ignorant as she was of the sources 32 CORMICIOOKS (E(0)