Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 16l CHAPTER XXIII. fTHE BALL. Ir is most singular, how the most important events of our lives spring from circumstances which the association with those episodes in our daily destinies alone renders worthy of notice. The licen- tiousness of an abandoned woman (according to the popular fable), caused a disasterous war of ten years’ duration, and the eventual sack of a mighty city: the distaste of a Roman senator’s daughter for the rods of the lictors, originated the election of plebeian instead of patrician consuls. On the mighty sea of life, the smallest rock will occasion shipwreck—the slightest current cause a deviation from a certain course—the most insignificant quick- sand ‘swallow up immense wealth—the appearance of a sudden mirage wrecks the sanguine mariner upon the nearest peninsula. And such are the destinies of man! As he walks upon level ground, a pebble may cause him to stumble: as he deviates from his habitual] path, a quagmire may await his unconsious steps! De Rosann was engaged to dine with Mr. Robson, and accompany his family to Mrs. Wentworth’s ball in the evening. On account of a trifling difference between the clocks at the West End and the one by which the household economy of the worthy banker’s spouse was regulated, our hero arrived a few minutes before six, and happened to find Selina again alone in the drawing-room. He would willingly have avoided the disagreeableness of a (éte-a-téte now that his mind entertained the idea of Selina’s attachment to him; but it was impossible to combat against the decrees of fate, or the embarrassments of chance; and he endeavoured to assume those easy manners, and the half-familiar, half-respectful style of conversation, which he hoped would convince her that he con- sidered her in the light of a friend, and simply as the daughter of one to whom he was uader obligations, and in whose family he had accidentally become intimate. But he could not help noticing the pale countenance of Selina, and the confusion with which she received him; for her delicate mind instantly suspected that Alfred might imagine those interviews were purposely so arranged as to take place in the absence of witnesses. It was therefore in vain and fruitlessly she essayed to be cheerful; her smiles were melan- choly, her laughter was forced, and her gaiety was assumed. All this did not escape the observation of our hero. ‘‘ Had I not been engaged to dine with you this evening,” said Alfred, “I should nevertheless have done myself the pleasure of calling.” | ‘‘ For a particular purpose again?” asked Selina, playfully al- luding to a portion of the conversation that took place between them the day before. 2] ECOMMICOOOKS (SO)