Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

“| Ve BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 41 CHAPTER V. WHEN AN IRRESISTIBLE BODY MEETS AN IMMOVABLE BODY, WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE? ‘‘ For she has tint her lover dear, Her lover dear, the cause of sorrow.” BRAES oF YARROW. I managed to convey Miss Meredith in safety down — to the dining-room where my father sat waiting. Some gay badinage took place between him and the young lady, during which I sat with my ear strained to catch the sound of my sister’s voice, almost oblivious to what was go- ing on beside me. And while my tortured fancy was picturing the scene of despair and sorrow which was being enacted within the room overhead, Isolina quietly tripped in and took her place at the table. “Who have you got up stairs, my dear?” asked papa. ‘*Mr. Cecil Beaumont is amusing himself until Miss Lillia is ready to accompany him to the concert.” “* What—me?” The young lady’s face beamed with delight, but she kept her eyes demurely upon her plate, and papa was none the wiser. ‘* Hadn’t I better go and see him when dinner is over?” whispered the girl, in a flutter of excitement. ‘« Better dress for the concert, and try the potency of that rose siik and chatelaine,” I responded, gayly. ‘“ Oh, yes, indeed, I had better look my very best, when I make my appearance. Poor, dear Cecil!” She could eat nothing, and laughed and talked almost | hysterically, until we were released from the table, when she was in a fever of haste to get her evening toilet over. She was, indeed, a lovely creature when thus equipped, and as I looked at her, I began to think it quite possible that her backsliding lover might prefer her smiles to my sis- ter’s scorn, and return to his allegiance, thus ending the embryo tragedy. ‘And what are you going to wear?” asked the young comicboo (e(o) <S