The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

186 REYNOLDS’ WORKS have nothing more to tell you. But I have something to ask —”’ ‘““T understand what it is, dearest Isabella,’’ exclaimed our hero; “‘ you are anxious on account of the people at the farm, and what they must think of your sudden disappear- ance, so incomprehensible to them. You shall write a letter at once to Mrs. Gardiner — And will you not tell her, dear Isabel, that you intend to remain here for two or three weeks until your friend Laura is married? for you cannot possibly leave her, you know, until that event takes place.”’ | And Christian’s eyes eloquently added that which his lips left unspoken, and which might have been interpreted thus: ‘* And you will not deprive us of the happiness of being to- gether? ”’ ‘‘ Laura has besought me to remain with her,’’? murmured the bashfully blushing Isabella, ‘‘ and I have promised that I would. But would it be too much, — would it be too far imposing upon Sir Edgar Beverley’s hospitality, if I were to order the housekeeper and my maid to join me here? ”’ ‘Qh, no,” exclaimed Christian; “it will not offend Sir Edgar, — on the contrary, it will give him pleasure to render your visit here as agreeable as possible. Write your letter, dear Isabel. I will go and speak to Sir Edgar at once, and one of his footmen shall take the very next train for Tun- bridge, so that within a few hours Mrs. Gardiner and the others at the farm will be relieved of all anxiety concerning you. Yes, for the sake of appearances, for many, many reasons, your servants must be where you yourself are.” ‘But you have not told me, Christian,’ said Isabella, with a look of timid apprehension, as he was about to leave the room, “‘ what your opinion is — ”’ ‘ Relative to that guilty couple? ’’ added our hero; then, after a few moments’ pause, he said, “‘ I fear that the secret must be kept, and they must be left to the punishment of their torturing consciences. Besides, there is evidently some dreadful mystery enveloping the affair, or else why those mutual accusations, those denials, and those recriminations? But pen your note, dear Isabel. I now go straight to Sir Edgar Beverley.” All was done as Christian had suggested. The baronet was only too happy to comply with any request that was made EORMICLIOO KS (E(0)