The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

68 REYNOLDS’ WORKS he besought and implored me to be there at the same hour on the following day, I did not refuse him; I suffered him to understand that his request would be granted. It was not until I was again at the chateau, and in mine own chamber, that I had a right comprehension of everything that had taken place. Then —I must candidly confess the truth — whatsoever regrets I might have experienced at the course I was pursuing unknown to my father were absorbed in the delicious sense of loving and being beloved. You see, Zoe, that I am telling you everything, I am speaking with frank- ness and candour, I am unbosoming myself completely unto you. Qh, do you not think I was very weak — ”’ ‘“ Proceed, dear Clarine,’’ said Lady Octavian, “ pro- ceed, and let me hear the result.’’ ‘* After that meeting,’’ resumed Mademoiselle Volney, “‘ we met frequently — frequently; yet on each occasion I thought to myself that I was doing wrong — very wrong. But, alas! love exercised its spell-like influence over me, and [. could not command the courage which was requisite for saying the word that was to pronounce our separation. And then too, my dear Zoe, I must not forget to observe that Claude Masson was constantly assuring me the time would soon come when concealment and disguise would be no longer necessary, — when he would be enabled openly to proclaim his presence in that district and make himself known to my father, and that then he would reveal his love for me and claim my hand. You see, dear Zoe, it was a delicious dream in which I was cradled, — a state of exist- ence so different from that which I had been lately leading, so new to me, that to have returned to the monotony and the solitude of my former mode of life would have been the de- struction of my happiness; it would have been suicidal in respect to my own heart. Thus weeks passed away — ”’ ‘“ And where did Claude Masson live all this while?’ in- quired Lady Octavian Meredith. ‘“ At a cottage about four miles distant, — at least so he informed me,”’ answered Clarine. ‘‘ Ah! you may conceive the precautions which he constantly took to avoid meeting my father or any one who might chance to know him. And I too had to take precautions in joining him at our trysting- places, but these were not so very difficult; my father never asked me whither I was going nor where I had been; he ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)