The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

86 REYNOLDS’ WORKS They were aghast. Mingled horror and dismay were depicted upon their countenances, no consideration of any ulterior objects having the power at the moment to cause them to master those feelings. Indeed they could not, it was the natural expression of haughty aristocratic preju- dices terribly shocked by the plain unvarnished tale of Mr. Gunthorpe’s earlier history. He did not, however, seem to notice the consternation which his narrative had excited, but looked as if he felt far more proud of the position which by his industry, as he represented, he had carved out for himself, than the two young aristocrats could possibly be of their lengthened genealogy and ancestral honours. The folding-doors at the extremity of the drawing-room were now pompously thrown open, and the dinner-table appeared in the midst of the apartment thus revealed. The noblemen and Mr. Gunthorpe took their seats. The former, having somewhat recovered from their shock, were rather curious to observe how the old gentleman would conduct himself at table, and were terribly afraid that he would be guilty of some awiul solecism in etiquette so as to horrify the fastidiousness of Alfred and the footman. They were therefore most agreeably surprised and considerably relieved when they found that he at once appeared as well versed as themselves in all the refinements and niceties of the dinner-table, not tucking his napkin up to his chin, nor eating fish with his knife, nor biting instead of breaking his bread, nor asking for malt liquor, nor falling into any of the little errors which they had expected. He took wine with them, too, in the approved manner; and though he spoke but little, yet so long as the domestics were in the room he did not give utterance to a single syllable at all calculated to shock the aristocratic pride of Lord Harold Staunton or Lord Saxondale. Thus the dinner passed off agreeably enough; the dessert was placed upon the table, the valet and the footman with- drew, and the decanters began to circulate. “Do you propose to make a long stay in England, Mr. Gunthorpe? ”’ asked Lord Harold, as he sipped his claret. ~“ T think of settling here altogether now,’’ was the reply. ‘“T believe your noble uncle the Marquis of Eagledean informed you in the letter of introduction which I presented to your lordship that I have retired from business.” CONNIE OO KS (E(0)