The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

44 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of cruelty on old Marguerite’s side. Wherefore so rudely awaken a daughter from a dream in which she had taught herself to love and respect her mother’s memory? Where- fore breathe in her ears the tale of that mother’s guilt? Wherefore disenchant her of the vision which had so inno- cently and in such sweet, filial confidence delineated a halo as encircling a mother’s name? And why (oh, cruelest detail of all!) — why plunge a dagger so deeply into Clarine’s heart by the hideous intelligence that he whom she had looked upon as her father entertained a horrible doubt as to his right of paternity? In this channel flowed the reflections of Lady Octavian Meredith, but her surmises could furnish no possible solution for old Marguerite’s conduct. She was loath to come to the conclusion that it was a wanton act of cruelty or inconsider- ateness, especially as all Marguerite’s antecedents appeared, from what Zoe had that day heard, to be characterized by fidelity and affection toward the family whom she served, as well as by general prudence and discretion. Had the old woman, therefore, some special motive? Was her conduct based upon good grounds? Zoe was bewildered what to think. She repaired to the drawing-room, where she found Clarine seated in a pensive mood at the window, and thinking to enliven her, Lady Octavian proposed to play upon the new piano. Then Clarine burst into tears. ‘‘ He who so kindly gave me that piano yesterday,” said the afflicted young lady, ‘“‘ doubts whether I am really his daughter. And yet how generous of him thus to minister unto my whims and caprices! A thought occurred to me yesterday — and it was for the first time in my life — that the conduct of my father — for by that name must I ever call him — had been deficient in the tenderness of affection which a parent shows toward a child. But now, after all I learned last night, I ought to wonder that he has ever shown me any love or kindness at all. Oh, my dear Zoe, with these dreadful ideas that are now floating in my brain, I feel as if I myself were utterly, utterly unworthy of all regard, all kind- ness on my father’s part.”’ ‘““Speak not thus, dear Clarine,’” said Lady Octavian; ‘you are not responsible for your mother’s frailty. You must conquer your feelings, — indeed, indeed you must. ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)