The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

CAPTAIN STANLEY 231 suing the course which was proper, manly, and delicate after the refusal he had just experienced, and though she felt deeply for him, yet she was well pleased at the idea that he had made up his mind to endure his disappointment philosophically and courageously. They returned to the mansion, where the other guests were already assembled, with the young duke, in the break- fast-parlour, and the adventure with Barbara Smedley was related to them. Christian warmly thanked Stanley for the service he had rendered his sister, and the impression left upon the minds of those to whom the incident had just been related was to the effect that accident had taken Stan- ley in his morning ramble to the spot where his presence was so much needed at the instant. But the reader has doubtless comprehended that the young officer had seen Christina proceed in that particular direction, and he had purposely directed his steps in the same path that he might avail himself of the opportunity to plead his suit. In the middle of breakfast the letters were brought in by a footman and laid upon the table. There was one for Captain Stanley. He recognized his father’s handwriting, and immediately opened it. Joy overspread his counte- nance, for that epistle conveyed a piece of intelligence which seemed to furnish him with a stronger claim to the hand of Christina than that which, according to his own idea, he could have previously asserted. Sir William Stanley had been raised to the peerage; he was now Lord Vande- leur, and his son was the Honourable Captain Stanley. On communicating this intelligence, the young officer received the congratulations of all present, and after break- fast he sought an opportunity of speaking alone with the young Duke of Marchmont. They retired together to the library, and the Honourable Captain Stanley then said, “I have taken the earliest opportunity to make you acquainted that something has occurred this morning, and which must not be kept secret from your ears.” Christian looked astonished, and this surprise on his part was indeed most unfeigned. ‘To see your sister,” continued Stanley, ‘‘ was to admire her; to know her was to learn to love her. May I hope, my dear friend, that you will not consider me too boldly pre- sumptuous in aspiring to the hand of Lady Christina Vivian?” GOMIIGDOG SS) (©)