The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

142 REYNOLDS’ WORKS deprecation, for she evidently foresaw the observation that would next come from his lips. ‘“ How absurd,” he exclaimed, “ to waste your time over that sentimental nonsense. And really, Zoe, when there are so many elegantly bound books which you might group about you, I wonder at your having those poor-looking volumes here in the drawing-room.” ‘“T will put them out of sight, dear father,” she at once rejoined, “‘ if you object to them,” and she hastened to thrust the books under one of the immense velvet cushions bor- dered with gold fringes and having long tassels likewise of gold. ‘Tf you don’t like the tales and poetry in those volumes,” continued Mr. Armytage, glancing toward the trumpery works in their splendid binding that lay upon the tables “it is quite fashionable, you know, to have the last new novel lying by your side. I have often begged you, my dear Zoe, to read fashionable novels; they improve the taste, and furnish ideas for conversation in company.” ‘Really, my dear father,’ replied Zoe, who however seldom contradicted or remonstrated against the displays of her sire’s false notions and vulgar taste in such matters, ““T do not think that these fashionable novels of which you speak can in any way afford improvement for the mind or manners, and as for the conversation, Heaven help those who think of drawing their inspirations from such sources! ”’ Mr. Armytage was about to reply, when an equipage dashed up to the front of the house, and hastening to the window, he exclaimed, “‘ It is my friend the Duke of March- mont.” He then sat down and took up a book, so that he might have the air of one who did not put himself out of the way for even a ducal visitor, but would receive him with as little excitement and as little fluttering of pride as if he were the humblest of acquaintances. But he was not destined to receive the visit at all on the present occasion, for when one of his footmen — habited, by the bye, in a livery resplen- dently gorgeous — made his appearance in the drawing- room, it was not to announce the duke, but simply to request Mr. Armytage to step down, as his Grace had a word to say to him but begged to be excused alighting from his carriage as he was in a hurry to keep an appointment elsewhere. For b] Gomichdoo S) (E(0)