The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

CAPTAIN STANLEY 229 friendship upon him who had delivered her from the violence of a desperate woman. His eyes were fixed admiringly upon her, and yet there was in his gaze all that respectfulness which associates itself with the love of an honourable man for a chaste and virtuous maiden. “Lady Christina,’”’ he said, in a low, gentle, but earnest tone, ‘‘ will you permit me to offer you the homage of that heart which has learned to appreciate all your excellent qualities? Oh, deem not the moment inopportune, and think not for an instant that I am so ungenerous as to en- deavour to avail myself of the little service which has been deemed worthy of your thanks. Let me assure you that from the first instant we ever met in the neighbourhood of London, I have entertained for you the deepest interest, the highest admiration, and permit me now to add the sin- cerest love. Tell me, Lady Christina, may I venture to hope? ”’ We have already said that the young maiden was hitherto totally unaware of the sentiment with which she had in- spired Robert Stanley. When, therefore, he began to ad- dress her in those terms, she was filled with astonishment and confusion; she could not give utterance to a word that might check him at the outset. He felt her hand tremble as it delicately rested upon his arm, and his heart beat with joy at the idea that he was not an object of indifference to her. But when he had ceased speaking, that hand was withdrawn from his arm, and Christina’s countenance became deeply serious, at the same time having an expression of pain and regret. ‘Captain Stanley,’ she replied, “I scarcely know in what terms to couch the answer that I am compelled to give you. Believe me, I am not insensible of the flattering com- pliment conveyed by such a proposal, — but still I cannot accept it.”’ The young officer was as much astonished as he was erieved. He had not foreseen a refusal, he had not antici- pated it. Without any undue vanity, he had believed in the certain success of his suit. The refusal itself was con- veyed in language so reserved and ambiguous that it cor- responded not with the usual candour of Christina’s conduct and disposition. That she was not engaged to another he felt morally certain, for if such engagement existed, why GomiilGcaooks (C(O)