The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLEMN INJUNCTION 47 composure suddenly vanished, and that she sank upon the seat as if overcome by a mortal terror. ‘“Clarine,’”’ continued Monsieur Volney, “I have long wished to speak to you on a particular subject, and the few words which passed between us yesterday more than ever impressed me with the necessity of so doing. You see that I am awakening to a sense of your lonely position, shut out as you are from that society in which at your age it is natural you should desire to mix, and indeed in which you ought to mix. Yes, my poor child! I will henceforth endeavour to consider you more and myself less than I have hitherto done. You will not always have Lady Octavian Meredith with you; I dare say that she will soon become wearied of this mo- notonous mode of life — ”’ “On the contrary, my dear father,’ Clarine ventured softly to observe, ‘‘ Lady Octavian loves this seclusion where she has found a home. As for myself — ”’ ‘‘T know that you are a good and obedient girl,” inter- rupted Monsieur Volney, somewhat hastily, “‘ and it is that which — ” But he suddenly stopped short, — his countenance still averted, his eyes still shaded by his hand. A deep but in- audible sigh slowly convulsed Clarine’s bosom, for she comprehended only too well how her father would have finished his sentence if he had not caught back the words which had involuntarily risen to his lips. He would have said, ‘‘ It is this that makes me show you whatsoever love and kindness you have ever known on my part.” “Yes, you are a good and dutiful girl,’’ continued Monsieur Volney, after a pause, and still he seemed as if he dared not turn his eyes toward Clarine. ‘‘ And now listen to me at- tentively: listen also with that complying and obedient spirit which you have ever manifested toward me. I said yesterday that we are all mortal, — that I am advanced in years, and that in the ordinary course of nature my time must soon come. And then, too, there are accidents and casualities, and it may likewise be, Clarine,” he continued, speaking in disjointed sentences, as if he were really much moved inwardly, though his voice was cold, — ‘‘ and then too, Clarine, it may enter into my plans to send you where you may mingle in that society where you ought to move —”’ “But my dear father — ”’ COMIC OOO CS (CO)