The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

CHRISTINA AND LORD OCTAVIAN 277 sense will tell you that it can be no welcome intelligence for a wife to learn that her husband has for more than two months treasured up a secret from her. Proclaim the truth, if you will, to Zoe, but pardon me for saying that you will be guilty of an act of unkindness toward myself, inasmuch as my wife would never put confidence in me again. If I happened to rise at an earlier hour than usual in the morning, or if I were detained out later than is my wont at night, she would torture herself with all possible anxieties; she would picture to herself her husband involved in some cruel di- lemma the imminence of which he had carefully concealed from. her — ”’ “* Yes, my lord,” interrupted Christina, “‘ all that you say is but too true. Nevertheless, I feel that I cannot be guilty of a deception toward an amiable lady who has received me in the kindest manner— No, I cannot! I will say nothing of past events, but I will withdraw from the house at once. Yes, whatsoever construction may be put on this step — ” ‘“Miss Ashton,” exclaimed Octavian Meredith, “‘ I would rather ten thousand times that you should tell Zoe every- thing. What could she possibly think if you withdrew yourself thus abruptly? She would either imagine that you had received some insult from me, and were too generous to mention it, or on the other hand that you were conscious of some unworthiness of your own which you were afraid of transpiring. Against the former suspicion how could I possibly vindicate myself when all appearances would be in my disfavour? and as for the latter suspicion, sooner than that you should suffer one tittle in the estimation of Zoe, I would proclaim everything.”’ Christina beheld all the truth and none of the sophistry — for there was a blending of both — contained in these argu- ments. She was bewildered how to act. Not for the world would she bring mischief into a house the lady of which had received her with open arms, but on the other hand she could not bear the idea of harbouring a secret which to her pure mind savoured so much of a deception. “Now, Miss Ashton, you must decide upon the course which you intend to pursue,’ resumed Lord Octavian, and it was with the greatest difficulty he could conceal the anxiety and suspense which he experienced. ‘‘ There are EOMIE NOOO KS a (EO)