The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

274 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Octavian advanced, took her hand, and as he pressed it warmly, the rapture of his feelings continued to permeate the looks with which he gazed upon Christina. There was nothing insolent in those regards, no libertine effrontery to shock her pure mind, but nevertheless a degree of fervid ad- miration which she could not possibly help observing, and which made her withdraw her hand somewhat abruptly as the colour mounted to her cheeks and her eyes were cast down. ‘“Miss Ashton,’’ said Octavian, ‘‘ you have delighted me with your musical skill, but, may I add, still more with the exquisite beauty of your voice.” This compliment, delivered in tones that were almost as impassioned as Octavian’s looks, completed Christina’s confusion; the crimson deepened on her cheeks, and her sweet black eyes, which she had for a moment raised again, were as rapidly bent down once more. _ ‘“] hope that I have not offended you,” said Octavian, in a soft voice; “‘ not for worlds would I do so.” ‘““ Oh, I believe you, sir,’’ exelaimed Christina with artless warmth, for it immediately struck her that the man who had rescued her from insult, and had risked his life as the con- sequence, could not possibly mean himself to insult her. “But frankly speaking,’ she added, now looking at him with the full ingenuousness of her large clear dark eyes, and she smiled modestly too as she thus spoke, revealing teeth white as Oriental pearls, ‘‘ I am so little accustomed to be complimented that perhaps I betray too much awkward embarrassment — ”’ ‘No, not too much,” ejaculated Octavian, and it was on the very tip of his tongue to add, “‘ I adore you as you are. Your very innocence is the greatest of all your charms,’’ but with a sudden effort he held the words back, and taking her hand, conducted her to a seat. ‘‘ Neither Lord nor Lady Octavian Meredith is at home,”’ said Christina, little thinking that she was addressing one of those of whom she spoke. ‘“ Her ladyship will not return for two hours — ”’ ‘“ But Lord Octavian himself is in the house,’ Meredith. ‘“T will ring and inquire,’ said Christina, and she was rising from her seat, when the expression of Meredith’s ’ observed Gomichbooks (E(0)