The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

36 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘Mrs. Maxwell then invited me to enter the house and partake of breakfast. Her husband was both pleased and astonished when she introduced me into the parlour, but she contented herself with the simple observation that there had been some little misapprehension on her part with re- gard to me, and that it was now cleared up. Louisa was summoned down-stairs, and she could scarcely believe her eyes when she saw me there, nor her ears when her sister repeated the same observation which she had made to her husband. In short, the happiness of Louisa and myself now seemed all but complete, for Mrs. Maxwell was as courteous and kind as she had formerly been cold and dis- tant. I was utterly at a loss to account for all this, but I cared not to waste time in reflection upon it. I surrendered myself completely up to the bliss of Louisa’s society and in being recognized as her accepted suitor.”’ Here Edgar Beverley stopped again for a few moments, and then proceeded as follows: ‘““In the course of that day I had another private inter- view with Mrs. Maxwell, and she then requested me to be explicit with regard to my intentions. I said that I would write to my uncle that very day, and that, as a proof of my honourable views, I would show her the letter. She was perfectly satisfied, thanked me for the confidence I re- posed in her, but did not decline my offer, as methought she might have done, to suffer the letter to pass through her hands. I went to my quarters to write it, and now more forcibly than ever did I recollect my uncle’s imperious injunctions against following in my late father’s footsteps and marrying a penniless girl. But love has hope and faith amongst its elements — ” “It has,” thought Christian Ashton to himself, as the image of the beauteous Isabella Vincent rose up in his mind. ‘“‘ And therefore,” continued Edgar Beverley, “ I flattered myself that my uncle would be moved on my behalf when I assured him in my letter that my happiness was centred in that fair being who, though without a fortune, was a model of loveliness, amiability, and virtue. When the letter was finished, I sent it in an envelope to Mrs. Maxwell, that she might peruse its contents and then despatch it to the post. You may be sure, Mr. Ashton, that I waited the reply with a considerable degree of suspense, although I ECORMICLIOO KS (CE (0)