The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

48 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a dozen other members, male and female, of the fashionable world. They came in due course, and though Eliza received them with her wonted affability, and did the honours of the mansion with a becoming grace and dignity, she experienced no real relief in their society from any of the sorrows that lay deep in the immortal caverns of her heart. Lord Clandon was at his shooting-box in a midland county when the duke and duchess returned to England. On learn- ing their arrival, he lost no time in writing a dutiful and affec- tionate letter to his uncle, expressing a hope that the amiable duchess had recovered so far as could be expected from the shock of her father’s death. The duke, flattered and gratified by this fresh testimonial of Hugh’s complete and generous deference to the head of the family, responded in cordial terms, and invited him to pay a visit to Oaklands. Lord Clandon was unmarried, and the duke jocosely hinted in his letter that it was high time Hugh should think of taking unto himself a partner for life, and that probably amongst the lady guests assembled at Oaklands he might find one who in personal and pecuniary points of view would prove an eligible match. The pecuniary point of view was perhaps the more important for Lord Clandon’s consideration, inasmuch as he was far from rich. His income amounted to a bare two thousand a year, — little enough to support his position as a peer, and a mere trifle indeed for one whose habits were expensive and extravagant. The duke well knew that his nephew was thus straitened in his means, and in the same letter which conveyed the invitation to Oaklands he enclosed a cheque upon his banker for a handsome amount. Lord Clandon hastened to acknowledge the epistle and its enclos- ure, expressing a fervid gratitude for his uncle’s considerate kindness, and promising to be at Oaklands at the expiration of a week. The same post which brought this letter from Hugh brought one from another quarter, likewise addressed to the duke. To this second letter a kind response was likewise returned by his Grace, accompanied by an invitation to Oaklands. And Eliza knew that this letter was received, and that this invitation was given. The answer came, to the effect that the writer would be at Oaklands in the after- noon of the following day. That afternoon came. The duke and his wife were alone’ Gomicboo Ss (E(0)