The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

EDGAR BEVERLEY 29 but though I do not mean for an instant to affect that I am more immaculate than other young men upon the point, I certainly had no inclination for an amour at that time, as my thoughts were otherwise engaged. I therefore, after some little conversation, made my bow and walked away. On the following day, between two and three in the after- noon, I was passing along in the neighbourhood of the pavilion, when I encountered this lady again, and her recog- nition of me was so pointed that I was compelled to stop and converse with her. She gave me to understand by her looks — as eloquently as looks could speak — that she wished our acquaintance to assume a more intimate footing; but handsome though she were, there was something about her which failed to inspire a feeling sufficient to induce me to avail myself of the opportunity to enter upon an amour. She did not mention who she was, nor at the time was she acquainted with my name. She gave me as much encour- agement as a woman possibly could, but I affected not to perceive it. At length I observed that her countenance flushed with a sense of spite and mortification, and with a cold bow she passed on her way. A few minutes afterward I had ceased to think of her, — all my thoughts being again concentrated on the image of the beautiful Louisa. ‘“‘ That same evening I was engaged for a ball given at the house of a wealthy family dwelling at Brighton, and on being introduced to the drawing-room, I speedily singled out that fair creature, who was seated next to her aged com- panion whom we are calling Mr. Maxwell. Now I was re- solved to make some inquiries concerning her; and on speak- ing to the lady of the house, was informed that the old gentleman who sat next to her was her brother-in-law, he having married her elder sister. You cannot imagine the relief which this intelligence imparted to my mind, nor can you conceive how happy I felt when in a few minutes I found myself introduced to Louisa Neville, — which is the name by which I must now call her. I was her partner in the first quadrille. I danced with her three or four other sets in the course of that evening. I escorted her to the supper-room, her old brother-in-law appearing to be pleased rather than otherwise by my attentions toward his wife’s beautiful sister. ~ “TY asked Miss Neville, in the course of the evening, how CORnnICLOOKS (CO)