The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

138 REYNOLDS’ WORKS give utterance to it, and as if Christina longed to dart from the room, but dared not take a step which would be so sig- nificant. Nor, when conversing in Zoe’s presence, did the young nobleman and Christina look each other in the face with the same frankness as before. Octavian dared not trust his own regards, and Christina dared not meet them. Thus painfully progressed matters after the little accident on the staircase. Nor again need the reader marvel if Chris- tina made not a confidant of her brother, for if she analyzed her own feelings, she could not comprehend them, much less could she have explained them. It was with an effort that she now maintained a degree of cheerfulness; whatsoever gaiety she exhibited was not natural as it was wont to be, but it was forced. At length another incident occurred which proved in its consequences more serious still. It was the beginning of April; the genial breath of an early spring was wooing the trees and the hedges to put forth their verdure, and the early flowers to show signs of returning animation. One day Zoe expressed a desire to take a drive into the country in a new phaeton which her husband had just purchased. It happened, however, that the domestic who attended the equipages had that very morning received a slight injury from one of the horses, and was unable to do his usual duty. But Octavian — who now more than ever strove to maintain the kindest treatment toward his amiable and devoted wife — was determined that she should not be disappointed, and he suggested that as he himself would drive they could easily dispense with the livery servant. They accordingly set out in the new phaeton, drawn by a pair of handsome galloways, caparisoned in the most tasteful manner. Lord Octavian occupied the box; Lady Octavian and Christina were seated together. The drive took place through the northern suburbs of London, and into the coun- try in the direction of Enfield. The horses were a new ac- quisition, as well as the vehicle itself; they proved to be spirited, and one of them gave some little indications of being vicious. Zoe questioned her husband upon the subject, but he assured her that there was no danger. The young lady was reassured, and the equipage rolled on to some considerable distance from London. Presently, on the summit of a hill, the sudden opening of the gate of a stable-yard attached to an isolated dwelling COMICNOOKS Colin