The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

THE BROTHER AND SISTER 355 ‘“ But haste, Theodore, and be off into the City. Take a cab, never mind this extravagance for once, because I told Mr. Chapman you would call upon him this afternoon. Be- sides, I want you to come back as soon as you can, as I have made up my mind to pass the rest of the day with you. It is now half-past one o’clock. What time do you dine? Let us say four, and the interval will be ample enough for you, Theodore, to transact your business with my friend Chap- man. Ah! now I see that Miss Varian does not like the idea of my inviting myself to dine with you? ”’ ‘Oh, Sir Douglas Huntingdon!” she exclaimed, with a sort of enthusiasm excited by her grateful feelings, “if you | beheld a sudden change in my look, it is because I felt that we cannot entertain you as we could wish, or else —”’ But she stopped short in the sweetest confusion. — ‘““Miss Ariadne,’ answered the baronet, ‘I think that when I was here last I told you how simple my habits have become. The more frugal the fare, the better I shall like it, and therefore do not be uneasy on that account. Now, Theodore, lose no time, but be off. I suppose you will per- mit me to remain here until your return? ”’ ‘““T am rejoiced that you purpose to do so,” responded the young man, and there was a world of meaning in the look which he threw upon the baronet, for it was as much as to say, “‘ 1am not afraid to leave you alone with my sister, for I know that however gay your life may have been, you experience too generous a feeling and too great a respect for her to cast upon her even a glance tainted with impurity.” The young man accordingly hurried away, and the baronet was now left alone with Ariadne Varian. “You can take up your work again if you like,” said Huntingdon, “ while I sit here and talk to you.” The damsel gladly availed herself of this permission, for it was with some degree of confusion and with a fluttering heart that she thus found herself alone with the baronet. She accordingly took up the work which she had ere now thrown aside, and it was in every respect a relief to be enabled to bend down her eyes upon it. ‘““ Now, Miss Varian,” resumed the baronet, after a brief pause, “ tell me whether you approve of this arrangement which I have made for your brother? I do not know whether I have informed him accurately as to the amount of in- Geom GDoOo <Sii in