The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

276 REYNOLDS’ WORKS me; it was, however, my intention to reveal myself fully to your knowledge. But when I beheld the simple tastes and pursuits of your brother and yourself — pardon me for thus speaking — I thought that the frank and affable manner in which I was received, and the friendly feeling which your brother specially exhibited toward me, might receive a check if I proclaimed myself to be of titled rank. In my estimation that rank is nothing, but I know full well that as the world goes, as society is constituted, and as prejudices have their influence, an aristocratic name has a certain prestige — In a word, I saw enough of you both to wish to become your friend, and I feared that as Lord Octavian Meredith I might not experience the same frank and open- hearted reception which was already given to Mr. Percival.’’ Meredith ceased, but Christina did not immediately an- swer him. Asa matter of course the explanation was entirely satisfactory up to the point where it treated of the visit to the lodgings after the duel, but from that point to the end it was less satisfactory. Miss Ashton was too artless, in- genuous, and unsophisticated herself, to penetrate the subtleties of the human soul, but on the other hand, she was too intelligent and right-minded not to entertain a certain misgiving as to the young nobleman’s complete self-excul- pation. A vague idea that the latter portion of his speech had some sophistry in it floated in her imagination, but yet she could scarcely explain the feeling to herself, from the simple reason that she could not possibly suppose Meredith to have been smitten with her beauty. ‘““My lord,’ she at length said, speaking gravely and seriously, “I thank you for the explanations which you have given me, but I do not see how it is possible for me to withhold from her Jadyship the circumstance that we have met before.’’ | ‘You have not as yet uttered a word to Zoe about that duel? ’’ inquired Octavian, hastily. ‘‘I know you did not yesterday, but to-day? ”’ ‘‘T have never spoken of it to a soul except my brother,’’ responded Christina. ‘‘ But I really cannot comprehend, my lord, wherefore you should object to her ladyship be- coming acquainted with a generous deed which you per- formed. The danger, thank Heaven! has long been over — ”’ ‘‘ Miss Ashton,’”’ interrupted Meredith, “‘your own good Gomichbooks (E(0)