The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

278 REYNOLDS’ WORKS but two alternatives for your choice: the one is that her ladyship shall be made acquainted with everything, and her confidence in me be thereby destroyed, or that she shall remain in total ignorance of the Pa and her happiness continue undisturbed.’’ ‘‘ If those be the alternatives, my lord,” responded Chris- tina, ‘‘ I cannot for another moment hesitate between them. It shall be as you wish.” ‘Thank you, Miss Ashton,’ answered Meredith, but he was now so completely on his guard that he did not suffer his looks to betray the joy that he felt at the decision to which the beautiful Christina had just come; nor did he speak in tones, nor bend such looks upon her, which might again cover her with confusion, and perhaps engender in her mind a suspicion of the love with which she had in- spired him, but of the existence of which she was as yet evidently altogether ignorant. Scarcely was this understanding arrived at, and just as Christina was about to rise from her seat and retire to her own apartment, the door was thrown open, and the footman announced the Duke of Marchmont. ‘“ My dear Meredith,’ said his Grace, advancing into the room with a well-bred air of easy familiarity, ‘‘ it is an age since we met.”’ His quick eye had at once caught sight of Christina; at once, too, had he recognized in her the sister of his young secretary, by the similitude existing between them, but he preserved the completest control over his looks, — at first affecting not to perceive her at all, and then bowing with the air of a man who has nothing peculiar in his mind when in the presence of some one whom he sees for the first time. ‘“ Permit me, my lord,’’ said Meredith, “‘ to introduce you to Miss Ashton, a, friend of Lady Octavian’s. ‘4 ‘* Delighted to have the honour of Miss Ashton’s acquaint- ance,’ said the duke, again bowing, and then for the first time appearing to be struck by anything in reference to her, he ejaculated, ‘‘ Dear me, how strange. I have a young gentleman with me, bearing the same name, and — pardon the observation — but the resemblance is so striking.”’ ‘“ And no wonder, my lord,” exclaimed Meredith, with a good-humoured air, ‘‘ for the young gentleman to whom you allude is this young lady’s brother.”’ Gomichbooks (E(0)