Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 37 ‘* Now. what in the world does he mean? I am frightened to death about it; in fact, that is what brought me here so suddenly. I think he is catching a fever—I am sure he must be sick, poor fellow!” Here the young lady subsided into tears again, which she petulantly wiped away, and resumed. ‘Tt it wasn’t for this idea, I wouldn’t have another word to say to him, not I, indeed! but I think it is just a sick whim he has got, and when he sees me he will forget it, and be fonder of me than ever, to make amends. So, when he comes here this evening, I am just going to be as kind as if nothing had happened, and I won’t appear to know any- tking about his foolish penchant for Isolina.” Having thus arranged her plans to her satisfaction, Miss Meredith dried her tears and ran to open her boxes that we might see her last new dresses. ) I could not but realize that this simple child was quite unfitted for such a man as Cecil Beaumont; his vehement depth of passions would annihilate her soft nature; she would never climb to his standard, she could not even look up to his moral height, without becoming confused and dizzy. And yet, if ever giant soul required a strong, calm spirit to guide it into rectitude, his did. Having displayed her wardrobe, and chattered herself into better spirits, Miss Meredith, finding Isolina too grave for conversation, turned her little flatteries and caresses to me, and finally conveyed me to her room. I sang for her and related bits of Italian romance, and had succeeded in amusing her, when the short afternoon drew to a close. My pretty companion, tired with her journey, had fallen asleep, curled up in the end of the sofa, and I was free to seek my sister, who had been alone in her dressing-room all the afternoon—not practicing once, but quite silent. The door of the room was ajar as I crossed the hall from Miss Meredith’s room, and the bright gas-light revealed my sister standing—a familiar attitude for her—with her back to the room, at the window. Her head was bent forward, and I feared she was grieving, so with an eager foot I ap- proached her and fondly put my arm round her waist, in- tending to comfort her if I could. - She started violently, gasped, then turned her face to me, cS (e(e) GComicboo