The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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82 REYNOLDS’ WORKS tram at the farther extremity of the room, she felt satisfied that there was really nothing significant in his remarks, but that they were merely conversational, the topic being caught up by accident at the moment. “Yes,’’ continued Clandon, “‘I believe and hope that Bertram is destined to shine in the world. My uncle, your Grace’s noble husband, — as noble in nature as he is in name, — has written most pressingly to the government to appoint Bertram as minister to one of the minor courts, and I have no doubt that in a few days intelligence will arrive that the Duke of Marchmont’s interest has not been exercised in vain.” Eliza made some suitable response, and Lord Clandon, after a little more conversation of the same sort, highly eulo- gistic of Bertram, rose and sauntered away to another part of the room. ‘““ My dear Mrs. Bailey,” he presently took an opportunity of whispering in this lady’s ear, ‘‘ you saw yesterday and to-day that there has been some little change in my brother’s demeanour toward the duchess. The fact is, I have no doubt things will be all right now, and those two in whom we are both naturally so much interested will get upon that amicable footing whereupon they ought to stand together.”’ ‘“ Yes,’’ answered Mrs. Bailey, also in a low, cautious tone. “T thought that Mr. Vivian was behaving differently, for when we met at breakfast this morning, and the duchess glanced at the cold chicken, your brother was the first to offer her a wing.”’ ‘Nothing can transcend your shrewdness and penetra- tion, my dear Mrs. Bailey,’’ rejoined Clandon, with a smile, and he then lounged toward the piano again. A week passed away from the date of that interview which we have recorded at such length in the preceding chapter, — an interview in which all the acutest and intens- est feelings of which human nature is susceptible were called into play. Bertram and Eliza loved as fondly as ever; how could it be otherwise? But still they were both shielded against temptation by the rectitude of their principles, and thus when left alone for hours together, it was only in their looks and in their sighs that the duchess was unfaithful in her duty to a husband, or Bertram in that toward an uncle. They spoke no more of their love; it was a topic which by tacit Gomichbooks (E(0)