Page:Horrid Mysteries Volume 3.djvu/133

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THE HORRID MYSTERIES.
127

When he came nearer, without seeing us, I called to him. He awoke from his gloomy reverie a little frightened; yet he had too much power over his countenance as not to exhilarate it immediately; and he always grew extravagantly merry, whenever he changed from a melancholy mood to cheerfulness; which now also was the case. Yet Caroline could not be deceived by his unnatural jocundity; her countenance assumed an uncommon serious aspect, which impelled him to use still greater efforts to cheer her up. I seconded him faithfully; and when nothing would succeed, we grew, at last, so excessively merry, that she offered to rise, and to leave us.

"I perceive, beautiful Caroline," he now began, "that one of us is disagreeable to you, and I fear I am that one."

Although he said this in a laughing accent, yet Caroline returned neither a word, nor even a look; remaining quietly on her seat, and playing with her fan.

"No,