The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

oa ee THE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT 175 this morning, after breakfast, she wrote the prettiest, sweetest, and genteelest little billet in the world, telling her friend Mr. Walter that she thanked him for all past kind- nesses, but was compelled by circumstances to give him his dismissal. “Then you have taken her under your protection? ”’ asked Staunton, and as Saxondale nodded an affirmative, he immediately added, ‘‘ Of course you have abandoned your love-campaign in respect to Signora Vivaldi? ” “ Oh, certainly. Miss Archer stipulated that as one of the conditions.” “ And therefore you will not consider it treacherous or unfair on my part if I take up the pursuit which you have thus renounced? ”’ continued Staunton. ‘ By all means do so,” rejoimed Edmund. “I am so well pleased with Miss Emily that it is with no great pang I abandon my hopes of the signora. And now I wish you good luck in the affair you are taking in hand.” There was a passing smile upon Lord Harold’s counte-. nance, which seemed to imply that he thought Edmund a very great fool for his pains; but as at this moment Lord Petersfield addressed some particular question to Saxon- dale, the latter did not notice Staunton’s look. Soon afterward the gentlemen proceeded to the drawing- room, where coffee was served around; and then the whole magnificent suite of state apartments was thrown open for the dance. Carriages kept rolling up to the doors of Saxon- dale House, depositing their aristocratic burdens, and then rushing away again to make room for fresh arrivals, so that by ten o’clock the brilliantly lighted rooms were thronged with an almost countless company, and a splendid band being in attendance, the alternate quadrille and waltz soon sounded most inspiritingly throughout the mansion. Lady Saxondale performed the part of a hostess with that dignified but quiet air which belongs to high breeding, and truly magnificent did she appear with her grand beauty set off by all the advantages of a superb toilet. The white ostrich plumes waved gracefully above the head which she carried with a statuesque elegance slightly commingled with hauteur, and no one who now gazed upon that proudly handsome countenance would have for a moment fancied that its serene dignity was but a mask veiling the inward COnNIEDOOKS (C(O)