His Grace — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 167 that he would hear all that it concerned him to hear, if not within the prescribed five minutes, at least within a quarter of an hour. However, a good half-hour had elapsed, and I was debating whether I ought not to emerge from my retreat and assume a more active part in the proceedings, when a discreet tap at the door was followed by the entrance of the rejected one. My first glance at his face con- vinced me that he was by no means inconsolable; but he closed his eyes and tried to look very woebegone as he sank into a chair. “My dear young friend,” said he, “I have just re- ceived a severe blow, which, unexpected though it was by me, has not been, I believe, unforeseen by you. Whether I have been fairly or honorably treated I leave it to you to judge; I will only say to you, as I have said to your sister, that I see no alternative open to me but to bow to her decision. [Iam grieved that such a decision should have been imposed upon her | by events with which, perhaps, I am imperfectly ac- quainted ; but I bow to it.” Being—as I think was but natural—somewhat irri- tated by the man’s manner, I replied that I really did not know what else he could do. I said it would be mere hypocrisy on my part to pretend that I had ever considered the match a desirable one or that I regretted its abandonment. It had, in fact, in my opinion, been far too hastily arranged. “So Lady Deverell thinks,” sighed Mr. Burgess. “ She may be right; she generally is right, because she is always animated by the kindliest and most unselfish sentiments. Still I own that the change which I can detect in your sister’s whole mental attitude has sad- Eomichoo cS (E(0) m