The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

124 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘““T see, my dear girl,’ continued Mrs. Oxenden, who did not rightly comprehend what was passing in her sister’s mind, “‘ that you are doing your best to exercise a becoming control over your feelings, and that when they threaten to get the better of you, you magnanimously check yourself. I am sure that this reiteration of all I have previously told you has its uses and its advantages, and therefore — for the last time, I hope, as I just now said —I will recapitulate those reasonings which I have adopted toward you before. You are aware that Sir John Steward sent for me from Brighton, declaring in his letter that he had a most important communication to make to me; this communication was to the effect that as the conduct of his nephew had been most unduteous in many respects — | “Do not vilify Edgar Beverley! ”’ interrupted Laura, un- able to restrain herself when aspersions were thrown out against her lover. ‘“ Well, Laura,’ continued Mrs. Oxbnieey ‘““T will speak in terms as delicate as possible. Putting all Sir John Steward’s reasons out of the question, the substantive fact remains that he determined to avail himself of the recently discovered document to break off the entail and dispose of his property, which is immense, according to his own good-will and pleas- ure. It is his purpose to make such a settlement that will leave Mr. Beverley in possession of the two hundred pounds which have hitherto been granted to him as an allowance. It is true that at his death Mr. Beverley may, under certain circumstances, succeed to the title; but even if it should be so, what is a title without wealth adequate to its support? A mere encumbrance! ‘To what, then, is Edgar Beverley re- duced? To the condition of a poor subaltern, with a couple of hundred a year besides his pay. Would you throw your- self into his arms, when, on the other hand, you may become the bride of a man who is enormously rich, and whose rank will be reflected on yourself? ”’ Laura was again on the point of giving a hasty and even indignant answer to these cold-blooded mercenary calcula- tions of her sister, when she was once more struck by the inutility of the course, as well as by the impolicy of saying aught that could possibly excite a suspicion in Mrs. Oxen- den’s mind. “As yet Mr. Beverley,’’ continued the latter lady, who, ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)