The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

60 REYNOLDS’ WORKS brothers had not met since they separated, more than three years back, at that very same mansion, after the death of the late Marquis of Viviandale, — that death which, by altering their father’s position at the time, had led to their recall from college. Bertram precipitated himself into Hugh’s arms, and if the joy of the latter were less exuberant, it was not considered the less sincere, but merely that it had a, different mode of demonstration, the dispositions of the two being not completely alike. Lord Clandon was all cordial courtesy and respectful friendliness toward the duchess; his demeanour appeared to be precisely what it ought from a relative of his age to one of hers. Thus the presence of Lord Clandon at Oaklands threw out, by the effect of contrast, the cold reserve and glacial formality of Bertram into still stronger relief. Lord Clandon had not been half an hour on this occasion at the mansion before he observed his brother’s conduct toward the duchess. At first he himself was as much aston- ished as the rest, for he had not the remotest suspicion of anything that had taken place between Bertram and Eliza when she was Miss Lacey at Oxford. Neither did he conceive it possible that his brother loved the duchess; for if so, Clandon thought that Bertram would pursue quite a different course and would seek to render himself as agreeable as possible. There was a mystery to be cleared up, and Hugh resolved to penetrate it. But how? He threw himself in Bertram’s way, walked out alone with him, turned the con- versation on the duchess, and endeavoured to draw his brother out. But not the slightest syllable of explanation was volunteered. Lord Clandon accordingly saw that he must go upon some other tack. He watched his brother’s and Eliza’s demeanour toward each other for the next two days; still all was mystery. Then he bethought himself of a plan to arrive at its solution. ‘“ My dear Mrs. Bailey,” he said to this lady, one morning courteously offering her his arm to escort her for a walk through the grounds after breakfast, “‘ have you observed nothing? ”’ ‘““Observed what, my lord?’ inquired the antiquated votary of fashion, — ‘‘ that the eldest Miss Lomax’s hair is red, though it passes in a complimentary way for auburn, that Miss Rachel Lomax has freckles, and that Miss Gomichbooks (E(0)