The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

66 REYNOLDS’ WORKS that your brother is chafed at this marriage of mine, and that he is venting his spite upon the duchess? ”’ “No, uncle,’’ ejaculated Lord Clandon, with the em- phasis of conviction, ‘ I am certain that it is not so. Ber- tram is too generous-hearted, too magnanimous to enter- tain any such mean and paltry feelings. I, who know my brother’s disposition well, can read the clue to the whole mystery.” “Can you?’ exclaimed the duke, full of delight and suspense. “Then, what is it? But take care, my dear nephew,” he added, more gravely, ‘how you suffer your love for your brother to blind your eyes to the real truth.” ‘‘ Listen, uncle, and judge for yourself,’’ responded Lord Clandon. ‘‘ My brother is a young man naturally diffident, naturally afraid, also, of having his actions wrongly judged. He was ever like this. His very sensitiveness throws him into extremes; the delicacy of his sentiments sometimes renders his conduct seemingly outrageous. He doubtless trembles lest the slightest attention paid to his amiable young relative should be wrongly construed — ”’ ‘‘ Well, but those are the very conjectures with which I myself,’” interrupted the duke, with an air of disappoint- ment, “‘ have sought to account for his conduct, but I fear that they are not the correct ones.”’ ‘Bear with me, uncle,” said Hugh, deferentially, ‘‘ and erant me your patience. My brother is two years younger than myself, and though he has seen more of the world in the shape of travel, he knows less of it in useful experience. Regard his position, —a young man of a little more than three and twenty, suddenly presented to a lady relative, even younger than himself. He feels that it is not for him, but for her, to define the degree of friendly intimacy and becoming cordiality on which they are to stand toward each other. Doubtless as he found her ladyship, so has he mod- elled his own conduct.” ‘‘ Indeed, Hugh,” observed the duke, as he slowly retro- spected over all the details of his wife’s and Bertram’s bearing toward each other, “I think you are right. And now I re- member, the very first moment he made his appearance at Oaklands, Eliza did not receive him with a befitting welcome. Yes, there is much truth in your words. She neither gave him Gomicbooks (elo)