The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

58 REYNOLDS’ WORKS when they did not. The dinner was marked by the same sort of conduct, the evening passed in a similar manner, and the effect of all this was to throw a species of damp upon the spirits of the guests. The duke himself now became cold and distant to Bertram, and, not choosing to deign any further discourse with him on the topic, resolved to speak to his wife. ‘‘ Eliza,” he said, when they had retired to their chamber, ‘it is impossible I can conceal from myself the strange, I may even call it the rude and uncourteous manner, in which my nephew behaves toward you.” For a moment the duchess trembled from head to foot, but her agitation escaped her husband’s notice. Then, almost instantaneously recovering her presence of mind, she said, in her serene, calm voice, “‘ I have nothing to complain of in Mr. Vivian’s treatment.” Again was the duke smitten with the thought that his favourable construction must be the true one, — that Ber- tram was resolved his conduct should be merely respectful, and nothing more, that Eliza understood his meaning, ap- preciated it, and was not merely satisfied, but pleased. The duke therefore said no more, but he thought within his own heart that this self-imposed restraint would necessarily be mitigated into a little more congenial cordiality in the course of a few days. The next three or four days, however, passed in precisely the same manner, and it became evident that Bertram absolutely avoided the duchess as much as he possibly could. If, when in the drawing-room, a movement was made by the guests which threatened to leave him alone with Eliza, he would abruptly quit the apartment. He had ceased to conduct her to the dinner-table; he placed himself (and some thought, studiously so) as far from her as possible. He never addressed himself direct to her, unless absolutely obliged, and then his tones were chillingly glacial. Her demeanour, on the other hand, began to grow evidently distressed, notwithstanding all her efforts to maintain a dignified composure. The truth is, it was an ordeal that was wearing her out, she could not support it. All her love for Bertram Vivian was revived with its full pristine power and tenderness. Indeed, it had never been extinguished; it had given place to resignation when she believed him to be no more; it had remained, as it were, lulled and subdued by the Gomichooks (E(0)