The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

EDGAR BEVERLEY 39 it? Did it not corroborate the whispers that I had already heard in respect to Mrs. Maxwell’s character, and did it not fully account for her strange behaviour toward me while labouring under the idea that I all along knew of her former equivocal connection with my uncle? Nor less did it ac- count for the strange language in which she had addressed me on the morning when she had surprised Louisa and my- self together in the garden. I also comprehended why she had so readily accepted my proposal to show her the letter that I was to pen to my uncle. She doubtless wished to be sure of the terms in which I should speak of herself, so that she might positively ascertain whether I was sincere in pro- fessing my ignorance of her antecedents. I was deeply erieved to think that Louisa was so closely connected with such a woman, and then I blamed myself for this feeling, inasmuch as I knew Louisa herself to be the most immacu- late of beings. While pursuing my reflections, methought that Mrs. Maxwell’s journey might now be explained; and I conjectured that she had gone to confer personally with my uncle, who, I should observe, was at his country-seat in this county where you and I, Mr. Ashton, now are.”’ ‘“‘ Proceed,” said Christian, impatiently, for all his former Suspicions were now pena strengthened into complete confirmation. “Tt will require not many details to complete my tale,”’ resumed Edgar Beverley. ‘“‘ Three days ago I received a note from Mrs. Maxwell, dated from the house at Brighton, and therefore showing that she had returned home. It was to the effect that after mature consideration, and under all circumstances, she begged in the most positive manner to decline on her sister’s behalf the proposals of marriage which I had made. The billet contained no more; it was thus cruelly concise and laconic. But scarcely had I read it, and while still labouring under the influence of the dreadful shock it occasioned, another letter was brought to me. This was from my uncle. It professed the deepest regard for my welfare, and went on to state that the inquiries he had instituted in respect to the matter that I had commu- nicated to him were so far from satisfactory he was com- pelled to put a firm negative upon the request I had made for his assent upon the point. He charged me not to write to him again on the same topic, under penalty of his serious EOMINGIOOKS (CO)