The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second CenturyLoudon, Mrs. (Jane)
Science
The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century
Loudon, Mrs. (Jane)
Feminist fiction; Science fiction; Twenty-second century -- Fiction
"In the name of Heaven!" cried Henry Seymour wildly, "who and what art
thou?"
But, ere he had finished speaking, the Mummy was gone. "Fiend! demon!"
cried the youth, "what means this unreal mockery? But thou shalt not
escape me thus."
In the mean time, the duke had somewhat recovered, and, by permission
of Dr. Coleman, Lord Edmund and Sir Ambrose were admitted to his
chamber. The reverend Fathers Morris and Murphy were there already.
"I believe it is quite against the rules," said the doctor, "to allow
visitors to a patient in the duke's state;--but he is so irritable, I
fear keeping him in suspense might occasion a relapse."
"I am sorry to see you thus, my dearest friend," said Edmund, pressing
the duke's hand warmly; "you have always been a second father to me,
and, God knows! I love you as myself."
The Duke fervently returned his pressure, but he could not speak. "My
dear, dear friend!" said Sir Ambrose, the tears trembling in his eyes.
"Come! come!" said Dr. Colman, good-humouredly, "I must not let you
agitate my patient. Lord Edmund is only come, my Lord Duke, to take
leave. He is going into the country to try to exert his influence
amongst the electors."
The duke shook his head.
"I must not have you despair," said Sir Ambrose; "we shall beat them
yet: not but that we must fight hard, for Rosabella is as crafty as a
fox, and you see what a party she has made:--besides, she's as selfish
as her father."
"No," said the duke feebly, and speaking with great difficulty; "Edgar
was not selfish."
"The influence of natural affection is astonishing!" said Sir Ambrose;
"since it makes you speak thus of one who has so grossly injured you."
"Edgar's faults," replied the duke, scarcely able to articulate, "were
rather those of circumstance than of feeling. I am convinced of it, and
forgive him. Nay, if he were alive, and I could see him, I would clasp
him to my heart."
"Och!" said Father Murphy, "and that's said just like yourself;
for there's nothing so like a Christian spirit as forgiving our
enemies;--and so may Heaven prosper and bless all that love ye, and
send all that hate ye to the Devil."
"But how does that accord with the Christian spirit you were talking
of?" asked Dr. Coleman, smiling.
"Och!" replied Father Murphy, "and it's clane another thing. For none
but the Devil's own brats could hate the duke, and he's a right to his
own, surely."
Dr. Coleman, though not quite convinced by the sophistry of the holy
father, did not attempt to controvert it; and the party, fearing to
fatigue the duke, soon after separated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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