The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

BERTRAM VIVIAN dd When she grew somewhat calmer, the Duchess of March- mont reviewed the details of the meeting which had just passed. While Bertram was answering his uncle’s observa- tions, he had spoken with a cold firmness, and without even so much as glancing toward herself; but when he had said that he was anxious to leave England as soon as possible, he had spoken with an emphasis which she could full well under- stand. Oh, why had he come to Oaklands at all? Wherefore cause them both to run this tremendous risk? Did he sup- pose that the duke was acquainted with the circumstance of their love? No, it was impossible, for if so, Bertram would not have paid this visit. The natural delicacy of his feelings would have kept him away; but how was it that his pride had not also kept him away? Did he suspect how she had been deceived and sacrificed, or did he fancy that she had wilfully proved faithless to her love for him, and, dazzled by the proffer of a ducal coronet, had bestowed her hand upon his uncle? In all these matters Eliza was in a state of the utmost uncertainty. But could her doubts be cleared up? Must she seek or afford an opportunity for explanations? No, she was resolved not to trust herself alone with Bertram Vivian. Rather, ten thousand times rather, exist even under the weight of his injurious suspicions, if such he enter- tained, than do aught which might savour of impropriety in her position as a wife, or lead her to even an unfaithful thought or unduteous word with regard to her husband. And that he did entertain those suspicions, she was more than half-afraid; for there was a certain pride, a certain cold assertion of manly dignity, in the way in which he had met her. Why, then, had he come to Oaklands? Was it to up- braid and reproach her? Was it to demand the return of the ring which he had given her, and to restore the one which he had received from herself? The Duchess of Marchmont saw more than ever the neces- sity of exerting all her fortitude. She did her best to assume her wonted outward calmness, and she bathed her eyes copiously to efface the evidences of weeping ere she sum- moned her maids to assist at her toilet. When this toilet was completed, she repaired to the drawing-room, where she found the duke in conversation with the assembled guests; but Bertram was not there. It was not until within a few minutes of the dinner-hour that he made his appear- (EONMICLIOOKS (EO)