The Blue Belles of England (Volume 3) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1842. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... passionate devotion manifested by his manner, which, licensed by their proclaimed engagement, assumed all the happy confidence of successful love. But here the sympathy existed no longer. Constance most certainly gloried in her illustrious lover; but, nevertheless, she wished not to exhibit her devotion in a crowd--she wished, on the contrary, from the very bottom of her heart, poor girl that they could be transported to the old oak parlour at Appleby, with nobody but her dear grandmother to comment on their love. Mr. Mortimer, however, was in one of his most delightful moods. He talked as none but a poet, and a poet of the world, could talk, and she soon forgot to think that she could be happier anywhere than she was then and there. But, alas, for the shortness of all earthly joys One bright half hour had scarcely passed away, when the eye of the poet was caught by the sight of some person in the other room, whereupon he started from the place he had occupied, and hastily saying, " Excuse me for a moment," glided away. Constance would have liked, perhaps, to have made one step forward, in order to ascertain who it might be for whose sake he had found it possible to break off a conversation so delightful; but neither love nor vanity had so far overpowered all other feelings as to induce her even to bend her neck forward to gratify this wish, and for a few moments the admired of all eyes sat forsaken and alone. " Do look at our beautiful Constance, Markham," said Penelope, who had ventured, while her mother's eyes, ears, and understanding were engaged elsewhere, to converse with all the freedom that a crowd permits with the only man whose conversation she wished to hear. " Do look at her, as she sits alone there in her beauty. The people moving round her seem ...