The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S CHAMBER 157 gentleman. Clara has made all inquiries concerning him, and has ascertained that he is of the highest character — ”’ ‘“ Ah! I understand,” said Miss Stanley, whose sight was now strong enough to enable her to observe the telltale blush upon Louisa’s cheeks. ‘‘ You love him? Well, my dear girl, if he be indeed all that you represent, and you have ascertained that he is so, there is no harm in a virtuous attachment.”’ ‘‘ Ah! my dearest aunt, when you come to know Jocelyn Loftus, you will welcome him most kindly,” said Louisa, again-embracing Miss Stanley. ‘‘ He will be here in a few days. I had a letter from him this morning, dated from Geneva. It is a very, very sad business which has detained him there; but it was to be all over yesterday, and then he was to leave at once for England. His name is not Jocelyn Loftus — ” | ‘‘ Heavens, what do you tell me?” asked Miss Stanley, all her confidence damped, and naturally so, by this announce- ment, artlessly and ingenuously though it was made. ‘There is nothing to fear, aunt,’ continued the young damsel. ‘“ Through no unworthy motives has Jocelyn Loftus taken this name; and he would have given me all requisite explanations when he was last in England, but he said he would rather postpone them till the eve of our marriage, when he would reveal everything. They are family circumstances which have made him adopt a feigned name; and I, having the fullest confidence and placing the utmost reliance in him, cheerfully consented to wait his own good will and pleasure for those explanations. To- morrow, dear aunt, I will show you all his letters, and then you shall judge for yourself what his character and disposi- tion really are.”’ “And how long have you known him?” asked Miss Stanley, reassured once more by the frankness with which her niece spoke and the confidence in which she referred to her lover’s letters. ““ A year, very nearly,’ replied Louisa. Then casting down her eyes bashfully, and with a blush again mantling upon her countenance, she said, ‘‘ We should have been married some time ago, and then it was his intention to have you conveyed in a carriage, built expressly for the purpose, to our future home, a beautiful mansion which he possesses in Northum- (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si