The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

132 REYNOLDS’ WORKS engender love. Perhaps, my dear Meredith, you love al- ready? ”’ “IT know not,’ responded Octavian, with some degree of confusion. ‘‘ And yet methinks that the image of one whom I have seen — on two or three occasions — is often present to my fancy —”’ ‘‘ And pray who is this fair being to whom you allude? ” asked the duke, ‘‘ for of course she must be fair, thus to have made an impression on your heart.”’ ‘“She is the loveliest girl I ever beheld in my life,” ejac- ulated Octavian, with an enthusiasm which he could not at the moment repress, but which when thus given way to left him overwhelmed with confusion. ‘‘ But who is she? ’’ inquired Marchmont. ‘‘ You may tell me; I never interfere treacherously with my friends’ love- affairs.”’ ‘“T would tell you cheerfully, but I myself do not know,”’ responded Octavian. ‘“‘I have seen her on two or three occasions, walking with a youth whom by the likeness I know to be her brother — ” ‘Then you have never spoken to her?” asked the duke. ‘““ Never,” replied Meredith. ‘‘ She is as modest as she is beautiful, and I do not think that she even so much as noticed that she was on those occasions the object of my interested regards. No, she is virgin bashfulness itself.’’ ‘‘ And to what sphere of life does your unknown fair one belong? Ah, by that telltale blush I see she is beneath your aspirations, or, rather, beneath what they ought to be.” ‘‘'This brother and sister of whom I am speaking,”’ replied Octavian, in a serious tone, “‘ are evidently respectable — ”’ ‘Respectable, but not rich?” exclaimed the duke. ‘‘ Perhaps tradesman’s children, or something of that sort? Now, my dear friend, renounce this phantasy of yours as speedily as ever you can.” ‘‘ Yes, I must, I must,” said Octavian, quickly, and with some degree of emotion. ‘ It is useless to cherish a dream, — madness, in my position, to cradle myself in a delusion.”’ ‘‘ The fact is,’ resumed Marchmont, “‘ that if you fancied an obscure girl ever so fondly and passionately, — I mean in a virtuous sense, — you could not afford to love her. Your circumstances will not permit you. You must marry, Octavian, according to the counsel which I have given you. Gomichbooks.co