The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRECIPICE 63 very first occasion obtained more or less influence over your heart as well as over your mind? ”’ “It is true; I believe that it is true,” responded Clarine, ‘‘for his image was constantly in my thoughts, so that even when by myself, I would blush at the idea of so incessantly thinking of the handsome countenance which [ had seen bend- ing Over me when recovering from my state of unconscious- ness after my rescue from that frightful peril. Nevertheless, solemnly do I assure you that when next I walked out again, after my father’s recovery, I had not the slightest expectation of meeting my handsome unknown deliverer. And yet we met. It was in quite a different direction from where we first encountered each other, — two miles away from this spot which is so close by the scene of my peril and my de- liverance. He approached me in a manner.in which kindness and courtesy were blended, as if he felt that circumstances had placed us on a friendly footing. Almost his very first question was whether I had followed his advice in respect to my father, and I answered that I had. We walked to- gether for about half an hour, the time flying so quickly that it appeared to me as if we had only been a few brief minutes together. When we were about to separate, he delicately hinted that I ought not now to mention our ac- quaintance to my father, for that if I did, I must necessarily explain how it commenced, and then he would chide me for having kept the matter secret at all. I have said that my deliverer spoke with the utmost delicacy of language, and it was also with a mingled entreaty and diffidence in his tone; but nevertheless a pang shot through my heart, I felt hurt, I should even have been indignant, were it not that I remembered that I owed my life to him, and that he had as magnanimously perilled his own to save it. He saw what was passing in my mind; he even looked pleased, he seized my hand, he said that he comprehended the natural delicacy of my thoughts and my sense of propriety; he im- plored me not to be incensed against him, for that he would explain his meaning and his object in beseeching me to keep the seal of silence upon my lips. I asked for that ex- planation at once; he wished to postpone it until the morrow. I then said to him, as nearly as I can recollect, the following words: ‘ You have saved my life, sir, and you have every claim upon my gratitude. Of that gratitude I have the COMIC OOO cS (CO)