A Romance of Vienna Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 Excerpt: ...of his skin would permit, and, taking rather audacious advantage of his angry parent's infirmity, said in very soft accents to his shrinking guest, " I do implore you, madam, lay not to my charge the idle ravings of my old mother.... I am bound, of course, to show her all respect, nor will so excellent a lady think the worse of me for this;.... but I am not bound to share her prejudices, or to sacrifice my judgment to hers. Let me entreat you to retire to your own apartments; I will immediately take care that a sitting-room shall be made ready for you, that you may be no more exposed to treatment so deeply lamented by me." Where is the Christian that could have expressed himself better on the occasion? Mary could almost have exclaimed, " By my hood he is a Gentile, and no Jew." But, though she did not thus poetically express her approbation, she said, " I thank you, sir," in a tone much more approaching to civility than any she had hitherto felt herself capable of using. She no longer delayed to leave. the room; but, having passed through the door he opened for her, heard the voices both of mother and son raised high the very instant it was closed behind her. It would have been worth something in her condition to have discovered how the dialogue ran, but not even the forlorn helplessness which made every aid so needful, could enable her to be an eaves-dropper. " I cannot do it " said she, as she hurried onward, almost blaming herself for the delicacy that rendered it impossible; and reached her melancholy room without knowing more of the wishes or the will of her Jewish gaolers than they had chosen to express in her presence. CHAPTER IX. A GLIMPSE AT FREEDOM. The gallant Imla kept his word. A goodsized room at no gre...