The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

128 REYNOLDS’ WORKS was the case. But in another sense you deceived me some- what.”’ ‘““ Deceived you? ”’ ejaculated Mrs. Oxenden. ‘“‘ Yes,”’ rejoined the baronet, “‘ but yet I do not think you did it wilfully. I fancied from what you said that I should find her less coy, — or, at all events, more susceptible of kind assiduities and attentions.”’ “You could scarcely expect, Sir John,’’ observed Mrs. Oxenden, ‘‘ that a young maiden on being introduced to you for the first time — ”’ ‘Yes, my dear friend,’ interposed the baronet, “ but during your journey from Brighton to Ramsgate you broke your mind to her, you told her that she must banish Edgar Beverley from her recollection, and that she must prepare herself to look upon me as her future husband.” ‘“ All this I did, Sir John, as you are well aware,’’ answered Mrs. Oxenden, impressively; ‘‘ and though not remarkable for any peculiar nicety of feelings, I can assure you it was a task which I should by no means like to have to execute over again.”’ “Well, well, I give you credit for all good intentions,’’ remarked Sir John, “‘ but still you must allow that my first meeting with your sister was but little flattering to me. First she looked at me in a sort of wild bewilderment, as if she had not rightly comprehended whom I was, and then, when you formally mentioned my name, she positively gave a shriek.”’ ‘“ But you should make allowances, Sir John, for the cir- cumstances which attended our arrival. The breaking down of the post-chaise, and then you will admit, too, that your costume was not precisely that which becomes you best.”’ ‘‘ It is the one though that I like the best,’’ answered the baronet; ‘“‘it leaves me comfortable and easy,’’ and he stretched himself out upon the sofa, for he was still attired in the very same manner as that to which reference had been just made. ‘ Well,” he continued, ‘‘ we will put aside the circumstances of our first meeting; but do you not recollect what trouble you had to get the girl down into the garden to say a few words to me yesterday morning, and how all my cajoleries and protestations and representations appeared either to frighten her or else to be thrown away upon her? ”’ ‘“* But what is the use of recapitulating all these things,” - CORNICLIOOKS im