The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

358 THE COURT OF LONDON at least in words —of that transient contact of his cheek against hers, “on asking Mrs. Baines’s advice relative to marriage, she at once declared it was the best step I could possibly take, and she reminded me that of her own accord she had volunteered similar advice some months ago. I bade her observe that if a Lady Huntingdon were introduced into my household, her authority as housekeeper might perhaps be diminished, but she at once declared that she would risk such an eventuality as that. In short, the worthy woman assured me it was her conviction that my happiness would be best consulted by means of marriage, and that if the lady on whom I might fix did not wish to retain a house- keeper, she (Mrs. Baines) would cheerfully resign her post. Now what do you think of that, Ariadne — Miss Varian, I mean? ” “ T think,” responded the damsel, in a voice that was very low and very tremulous, and she spoke, too, without raising her head, “ that Mrs. Baines has acted in a most disinter- ested manner, but only as I should have expected she would have done, from what I know of her.” ‘‘ And now tell me, Miss Ariadne,” continued the baronet, “ would you also advise me to marry? You do not answer. I must admit that it is a somewhat singular question, or it may appear so, at least, but do tell me if you think that | am capable of ensuring the happiness of any young lady whom I may love? ” “Yes, if you sincerely love her,” replied Ariadne; and now the stitches she was making were a thousand times worse than ever. “IT do love her, I have long loved her,’ exclaimed the baronet. ‘‘ And now I am resolved to offer her my hand and lay my fortune at her feet. Ariadne, dearest Ariadne, you know whom I mean. Will you be mine?” Again the work was dropped in the same kind of confusion as before, but this time neither of them stooped to pick it up, for the baronet caught the blushing girl in his arms and strained her to his breast. That she did not immediately disengage herself was a sufficient proof that she accepted his love and loved him in return. When the brother came back from the City, he found the baronet and Ariadne seated near the window shaded by the Venetian blind, and while there was the radiance of 7) COMiclooks (C(O) im