Penny Dreadful Multipack Vol. 1 (Illustrated. Annotated. 'Wagner The Wehr-Wolf,' 'Varney The Vampire,' 'The Mysteries of London Vol. 1' + Bonus Features) (Penny Dreadful Multipacks) by George W. M. Reynolds, James Malcolm Rymer
Authors: George W. M. Reynolds, James Malcolm Rymer
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heart was bursting
to reveal its secret; and when I discovered thee alone, ere now, in the gallery
of pictures, I could not resist the favorable opportunity accident seemed to
have afforded for this avowal.”
“Alas! my lord,” murmured Flora,
“I know not whether to rejoice or be sorrowful at the revelation which has this
day met my ears.”
“And yet you said ere now that
you could love me, that you did love me in return,” ejaculated Francisco.
“I spoke truly, my lord,”
answered the bashful maiden; “but, alas! how can the humble, obscure,
portionless Flora become the wife of the rich, powerful and honored Count of
Riverola? There is an inseparable gulf fixed between us, my lord.”
“Am I not my own master? Can I
not consult my own happiness in that most solemn and serious of the world’s
duties—marriage?” cried Francisco, with all the generous ardor of youth and his
own noble disposition.
“Your lordship is free and
independent in point of fact,” said Flora,
in a low, tender and yet impressive tone; “but your lordship has
relations—friends.”
“My relations will not thwart the
wishes of him whom they love,” answered Francisco; “and those who place
obstacles in the way of my felicity cannot be denominated my friends.”
“Oh! my lord—could I yield myself
up to the hopes which your language inspires!” cried Flora.
“You can—you may, dearest girl!”
exclaimed the young count. “And now I know that you love me! But many months
must elapse ere I can call thee mine; and, indeed, a remorse smites my heart
that I have dared to think of my own happiness, so soon after a mournful
ceremony has consigned a parent to the tomb. Heaven knows that I do not the
less deplore his loss—but wherefore art thou so pale, so trembling, Flora?”
“Meseems that a superstitious awe
of evil omens has seized upon my soul,” returned the maiden, in a tremulous
tone. “Let us retire, my lord; the Lady Nisida may require my services
elsewhere.”
“Nisida!” repeated Francisco, as
if the mention of his sister’s name had suddenly awakened new ideas in his
mind.
“Ah! my lord,” said Flora,
sorrowfully, “you now perceive that there is at least one who may not learn
with satisfaction the alliance which your lordship would form with the poor and
humble dependent.”
“Nay, by my patron saint, thou
hast misunderstood me!” exclaimed the young count warmly. “Nisida will not
oppose her brother’s happiness; and her strong mind will know how to despise
those conventional usages which require that high birth should mate with high
birth, and wealth ally itself to wealth. Yes; Nisida will consult my felicity
alone; and when I ere now repeated her name as it fell from your lips, it was
in a manner reproachful to myself, because I have retained my love for thee a
secret from her. A secret from Nisida! Oh! I have been cruel, unjust, not to
have confided in my sister long ago! And yet,” he added more slowly, “she might
reproach me for my selfishness in bestowing a thought on marriage soon, so very
soon, after a funeral! Flora, dearest maiden, circumstances demand that the
avowal which accident and opportunity have led me this day to make, should
exist as a secret, known only unto yourself and me. But, in a few months I will
explain all to my sister, and she will greet thee as her brother’s chosen
bride. Are thou content, Flora, that our mutual love should remain thus
concealed until the proper time shall come for its revelation?”
“Yes, my lord, and for many
reasons,” was the answer.
“For many reasons, Flora!”
exclaimed the young count.
“At least for more than one,”
rejoined the maiden. “In the first instance, it is expedient your lordship
should have due leisure to reflect upon the important step which you propose to
take—a step conferring so much honor on myself, but which may not insure your
happiness.”
“If this be a specimen of thy
reasons, dear maiden,”
to reveal its secret; and when I discovered thee alone, ere now, in the gallery
of pictures, I could not resist the favorable opportunity accident seemed to
have afforded for this avowal.”
“Alas! my lord,” murmured Flora,
“I know not whether to rejoice or be sorrowful at the revelation which has this
day met my ears.”
“And yet you said ere now that
you could love me, that you did love me in return,” ejaculated Francisco.
“I spoke truly, my lord,”
answered the bashful maiden; “but, alas! how can the humble, obscure,
portionless Flora become the wife of the rich, powerful and honored Count of
Riverola? There is an inseparable gulf fixed between us, my lord.”
“Am I not my own master? Can I
not consult my own happiness in that most solemn and serious of the world’s
duties—marriage?” cried Francisco, with all the generous ardor of youth and his
own noble disposition.
“Your lordship is free and
independent in point of fact,” said Flora,
in a low, tender and yet impressive tone; “but your lordship has
relations—friends.”
“My relations will not thwart the
wishes of him whom they love,” answered Francisco; “and those who place
obstacles in the way of my felicity cannot be denominated my friends.”
“Oh! my lord—could I yield myself
up to the hopes which your language inspires!” cried Flora.
“You can—you may, dearest girl!”
exclaimed the young count. “And now I know that you love me! But many months
must elapse ere I can call thee mine; and, indeed, a remorse smites my heart
that I have dared to think of my own happiness, so soon after a mournful
ceremony has consigned a parent to the tomb. Heaven knows that I do not the
less deplore his loss—but wherefore art thou so pale, so trembling, Flora?”
“Meseems that a superstitious awe
of evil omens has seized upon my soul,” returned the maiden, in a tremulous
tone. “Let us retire, my lord; the Lady Nisida may require my services
elsewhere.”
“Nisida!” repeated Francisco, as
if the mention of his sister’s name had suddenly awakened new ideas in his
mind.
“Ah! my lord,” said Flora,
sorrowfully, “you now perceive that there is at least one who may not learn
with satisfaction the alliance which your lordship would form with the poor and
humble dependent.”
“Nay, by my patron saint, thou
hast misunderstood me!” exclaimed the young count warmly. “Nisida will not
oppose her brother’s happiness; and her strong mind will know how to despise
those conventional usages which require that high birth should mate with high
birth, and wealth ally itself to wealth. Yes; Nisida will consult my felicity
alone; and when I ere now repeated her name as it fell from your lips, it was
in a manner reproachful to myself, because I have retained my love for thee a
secret from her. A secret from Nisida! Oh! I have been cruel, unjust, not to
have confided in my sister long ago! And yet,” he added more slowly, “she might
reproach me for my selfishness in bestowing a thought on marriage soon, so very
soon, after a funeral! Flora, dearest maiden, circumstances demand that the
avowal which accident and opportunity have led me this day to make, should
exist as a secret, known only unto yourself and me. But, in a few months I will
explain all to my sister, and she will greet thee as her brother’s chosen
bride. Are thou content, Flora, that our mutual love should remain thus
concealed until the proper time shall come for its revelation?”
“Yes, my lord, and for many
reasons,” was the answer.
“For many reasons, Flora!”
exclaimed the young count.
“At least for more than one,”
rejoined the maiden. “In the first instance, it is expedient your lordship
should have due leisure to reflect upon the important step which you propose to
take—a step conferring so much honor on myself, but which may not insure your
happiness.”
“If this be a specimen of thy
reasons, dear maiden,”
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