The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

/ BEHIND THE SCENES 237 pendent of my guardians and my mother. I got a couple of thousands from old Musters this morning, and here is the thousand,” he added, again tapping his waistcoat pocket, “that you require. But shall I give it to you now?” “No, you are coming home with me presently, I hope,”’ answered Miss Emily, with her most bewitching smile. ‘““T ordered supper to be in readiness, and champagne to be put in ice. Besides, I have got my new carriage.”’ “ Ah, is it come home? ”’ asked Saxondale. ‘‘ The coach- builder promised me it should be at Evergreen Villa by noon to-day.”’ ‘“* And he kept his word, my dear Edmund.”’ “ And the two cream-coloured horses, with their splendid new harness? ”’ “They also were sent down this morning. Oh, I am so glad to have got rid of that sober-looking brougham, which was all that Mr. Walter would allow me. And, by the bye,”’ added Emily, ‘‘ the coachman has got his new livery, so that the equipage altogether is quite charming. And now that I think of it, my dear Edmund, I have to thank you for the ease of champagne which came down to the villa last night, and the new service of plate from the silversmith’s in Bond Street.” We will not, however, prolong our details of this conver- sation. Enough has been already recorded to show that the shrewd and cunning ballet-dancer had succeeded in enmesh- ing the foolish young aristocratic pigeon in her toils, and that she intended to pluck him most unmercifully so long as this infatuation on his part should continue. But turn we now to another part of that concert-room, and there, in the remotest corner, retiring bashfully from the gaze which the lounging gallants insolently flung upon her as they passed, was a young creature of about sixteen, and whose beauty was rather of the pensive and interesting character than of the striking or dazzling description. In- deed, at first sight, there was nothing particularly attractive about this young hballet-dancer. It was only when, at a second look, the observer noticed her more attentively, the impression gradually forced itself upon his mind that he beheld a very pretty and interesting creature. For hers was a beauty the sense of which stole imperceptibly upon one, a beauty half the charm of which lay in its own retiring CONnNICECOOOKS (FO)