The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Hil Vy Vy ) // Ls l) VS \ Gy | LU refined propriety of conduct. Ina word, it is quite evident that hetreats you with the high consideration due to your unprotected and almost lonely position: he adopts the de- licate bearing of a brother or sincere friend—and all his proceedings are stamped with the evidence of a settled purpose to merit your good opinion. I amcertain, on the other hand, that you, my darling Louisa, will so comport yourself as to deserve his good opinion in return.” A short time after Clara had written the letter in which the above passage occurred, she addressed another epistle to her sister in the following terms :— “London, September 10th, 1814. ‘You mentioned, my dearest Loo, in your affectionate letter of the 7th instant, that Mr. Loftus had solicited you to furnish him with my address in London; and you won- dered for what purpose he could possibly require it. But the same post which brought me that letter of yours, in which you record the incident, likewise brought me one from Mr. Loftus. And now, my darling Louisa, before I tell you what Mr. Loftus has said to me in his letter, permit me to congratulate you most sincerely—most ardently—most en- 6 * _ (Ooh a renin ONG 1.0, J j ) hey awl ! (fs eit ride (( { s\y . : a NS 1S Ea eee i ie pp \ ‘ a Pe ee iil lll yt Lae rillli Hilf|t if (125 oS a &/ _-¢ 4 CIN i] t /, — y iM: L } = \ 0 Mb = 7 Wy Me “ Ts Sa : LZ Mf ANY att Nt i Aargryly Ahan bs ELEN LST thusiastically, upon having formed such an acquaint- ance, He is the very impersonation of honour, generosity, and manly delicacy; and you ought to love him—nay, I am sure that you do love, although perhaps this feeling is as yet unsuspeeted on your part. ‘** And now for the letter which Jocelyn Loftus has ad- dressed to me. He begius by saying that inasmuch as our aunt is incapacitated by her afflictions from listening to him, and as I am your elder sister, he deems it right to solicit my permission before he whispers a certain commu- nication in your ears. He represents to me that his parents have long been dead—that he belongs to an excellent fa- mily—that he is entirely his own master—and that he pos- sesses an income of six hundred pounds a-year. As a proof of his pecuniary position he refers me to his banker; and I have just ascertained that his statement is perfectly cor- rect. Moreover, the banker speaks admirably of him. Thus far, then, everything is in Jocelyn's favour; and it is for you to judge, my dear Louisa, whether his temper, disposition, and personal appearance be agreeable to you. I am sure that you will answer inthe affirmative. In plain terms, then, Mr. Loftus desires my permission to make you a proposal of marriage: he says that lie has now known you for nearly two months, and that although (CO)