The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

126 REYNOLDS’ WORKS self in a chair near him, and with triumph upon her counte- nance, she said, ‘‘ Laura has yielded finally and completely, as I all along assured you that she would.” ‘Then the marriage may be celebrated by the priest to- morrow? ”’ exclaimed Sir John, in a tone of hasty inquiry; “and we can set off immediately afterward to have the Protestant ceremony performed by special license in London, according to our original plan? ”’ ‘“‘T fear that it cannot be so,’’ answered Mrs. Oxenden, ‘for you know that the priest had scruples in pronouncing the nuptial blessing unless Laura gave her fullest and com- pletest assent. This she has only just done; she will require to-morrow to think well over it, for I am as intimately ac- quainted with her disposition as it is possible to be. But the day after — ”’ ‘Ah, I understand you,” growled Sir John, surlily. ‘You are a woman of the world, and you will have all the settlements signed and sealed before you give me your sister. Do you think I shall fly from my word? Do you suppose I am not sincere in disinheriting a younker for whom I have no more love nor affection than for the veriest stranger, but whom, on the contrary, I am inclined to hate because he shows his father’s independent spirit, or do you think that I shall fly away from the bargain which is to make over ten thousand pounds to you as the price for your charming sister? ”’ , ‘I wish you would not use such coarse, blunt language, Sir John,” observed Mrs. Oxenden, as a flush appeared upon her handsome countenance. ‘“‘Coarse language, indeed!” he ejaculated, and then he gave a still coarser laugh. “‘ Why, look you, my dear friend, let us not shut our eyes to the true nature of the transaction, because when we have to deliberate over it, it is inconvenient to blink the truth and go beating about the bush. Besides, you and I have known each other long enough and well enough to have no disguise between us.”’ 7) ‘Well, my dear Sir John,” said Mrs. Oxenden, deeming it expedient to cajole and conciliate the old man as much as possible, ‘‘ have it entirely your own way, and put the matter in whatsoever light you may think fit.” ‘“‘ All I want is this,’’ continued the baronet, — ‘‘ that you CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)