Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 194: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN 163 ‘¢ [ think you asked me, Miss Robson, if your father were aware of my intention to remain in London a short time longer ?”’ ‘¢Q, I dare say he is; for if you were as important a personage as Victor Hugo or Lamartine in disguise, and if you had entrusted your secret to him, with injunctions to communicate it to his own family only, he would follow the safer plan, and never divulge it at all.” ‘¢ The generality of men of business are thus cautious,” observed De Rosann: ‘* but I assure you that he is not yet informed of tiis change in my plans,”’ ‘¢ Here he is to answer for himself,” cried Selina. ‘¢ My dear friend,” said Alfred, taking the banker’s hand, *“your daughter will not believe that you are as yet ignorant of my resolution to trouble you a fortnight or a month longer with my frequently repeated visits.” ) ‘‘ Indeed! Iam heartily glad to hear that you do not leave us so precipitately : at the same time I wish your departure was pro- crastinated for a year rather than a month.” ‘¢ Now you believe me, Miss Selina,” said De Rosann, smiling. ‘¢ T never really doubted you,” was the reply : and Selina blushed, for she thought her answer was given in such a tone as to make Alfred fancy that she intended to convey a more serious meaning, and a promise of full reliance on his word and assurance on every other occasion. Our hero noticed the blush which painted her cheek, and was obliged to confess within himself that his ideas were not unfounded, and that Selina already experienced the germination of a sincere but ill-starred affection. The entrance of Mrs. and Mary Robson, and the speedy an- nouncement of dinner, put an end to any farther conversation for the moment: but it was easy to perceive that Selina was in much better spirits than she had been during the last four-and-twenty hours. * At nine o’clock the carriage drove up to the door, and De Rosann assisted the ladies to ascend the steps. Mr. Robson pleaded urgent business, that would occupy him all the evening, as an excuse for not accompanying them; and De Rosann accordingly occupied his seat. The worthy banker was himself no friend to balls; he liked them well enough for young people who could dance; but he did not think it becoming for an old married man to be seen at places where youth and beauty were alone remarkable and recherché. Cards were equally his abhorrence ; and on these occasions he was never so much delighted as when he could prevail upon a iriend to take his place as chaperon to his family. In twenty minutes the carriage stopped at a house in Jer- myn-street. Alfred presented his hand to help the ladies in their descent from the vehicle, and then offered his arm to Mrs. Robson, while the two sisters followed close behind. They were speedily introduced to the splendid salons of gaiety and light, where the dancing had already commenced, and where the all- attentive Mrs. Wentworth was busily occupied in receiving her numerous visitors. To some she behaved distantly, but politely,— COnniclooOolxs (E(0)