The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

THE SHADY AVENUE 81 uncle, that my advice was good. Her Grace has unbent somewhat, and Bertram’s wounded pride is healing pro- portionately.”’ On the following day there was a riding-party after break- fast. Bertram required not to be pressed to join it, and somehow or another, he found himself, when they started off, by Eliza’s side. In the afternoon there was a boating- party; Bertram had no letters to write, no other kind of exercise, recommended by his physician, to take, no plea of indisposition to keep him indoors. He escorted the duchess to the barge, and he again kept by her side when they took their places therein. But at dinner-time prudence whis- pered in his ear that he must not continue to monopolize the society of his fair relative; Lord Clandon therefore escorted her to the banqueting-room. In the evening, when they were all in the drawing-room, Lord Clandon, after lounging about with a languid, fashion- able ease, chatting to one, then to another, pausing to look over a print, or loitering a few minutes near the piano at which a young lady was seated, presently dropped into a chair next to that occupied by the duchess, for Bertram, having been seated with her for the previous half-hour, had thought it prudent to bestow some attention on others present. | ‘You know not,’”’ said Lord Clandon, in a low voice to Eliza, “‘ how deeply I felt my first meeting with that dearly beloved brother of mine, after our separation of more than three years. Your Grace must not think me so spoilt by the pursuits of the fashionable world as to have lost all fraternal love. Besides, Bertram is a brother of whom one can be proud. I do really believe he is the handsomest young man in all England. What exquisitely chiseled features! what symmetry of form! But all that is nothing in comparison with the light of intellect which shines upon his noble brow. And yet I fear me,’”’ added Clandon, in a tone of mysterious confidence, “‘ that he is not happy.” Eliza was actually frightened as Hugh addressed her in these terms. She trembled to the very utmost confines of her being, but it was with an inward tremor, outwardly invisible. She dreaded lest Clandon had penetrated the secret, but as she bent her searching gaze upon him, while he was riveting his own looks upon the graceful form of Ber- EONMICIOO KS (C(O)