The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

252 REYNOLDS’ WORKS rebuff. “ But really it is cruel of you to keep the public on the tenter-hooks of suspense awaiting that work of yours, which has already been so extensively advertised. You must permit me to look out for another secretary, or else,’’ added Lord Osmond, in the hope of putting his father into the most amiable of humours, “ I must act as your amanuensis for an hour or two every day.” | “No! would you, Adolphus?” exclaimed the old earl, catching eagerly at the proposition. ‘“‘ With the utmost pleasure,” was Lord Osmond’s ready response. ‘‘ We will commence to-morrow morning, if you will.”’ “That we will,” exclaimed the earl, forgetting everything else in his joy at the sort of compliment conveyed by his son’s supposed anxiety in respect to the forthcoming work. ““T will go this minute to the library, and sit down for an hour or two to rack my imagination and invent —I mean arrange the papers in readiness for to-morrow.” ‘‘ Pray do,” said Lord Osmond, “‘ for I am now all eager- ness to begin. And perhaps, as it isso sultry indoors and the evening is so beautiful, the ladies would accept my escort for a ramble in the garden? ” The earl made a passing grimace at the proposition, for he retrospected not lovingly upon those evening rambles, but as the thought flashed to his mind that his niece must remain the whole time in companionship with Adolphus and Ethel, he uttered not a syllable of objection, and ha- stened away to the library, intent upon the concoction of some startling incident for the morrow’s lucubrations. The countess and Isabella rang for their shawls, and Lord Osmond, hurrying: down-stairs for a moment, sought Make- peace, to whom he made a significant sign, which that in- dividual at once comprehended. The young nobleman then rejoined his mother-in-law and cousin, and they walked forth into the garden together. As this was the first occasion since the disastrous incident of the summer-house that an evening ramble had been taken, or that the system of guarded conduct had been in the slight- est degree deviated from, the countess could not help thinking that Adolphus had some particular project in view, for he had found no opportunity during the day to communicate his intention to her ladyship. Isabella, on the CORNICOOOLK Sl _ - - > > eee ot ES al es : “J : Sos eg ea a ace : ~ ae ¢