The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

THE BROTHER AND SISTER 309 honest joy upon the countenance of the former, there was the telltale blush of a virgin’s happy love upon the cheeks of the latter. ‘“ Theodore,” Sir Douglas Huntingdon immediately said, ‘“‘ while you have been to the City to find a situation, I have found an angel to become my wife. Ariadne has listened to my honourable proposals, and unless you say nay, has consented to become Lady Huntingdon.” ‘‘ Noblest-hearted and most generous of men! ” exclaimed Theodore, seizing the baronet’s hand and wringing it with violence in the enthusiasm of his feelings, ‘‘ how can I ever express my gratitude for what you have done? Ariadne, my beloved sister, sincerely, oh, most sincerely do I con- gratulate you upon having gained the affections of Sir Douglas Huntingdon. It is not a mere subordinate situation on the Continent which he has procured me; it is the chief management of that branch house which I fancied I was to enter as clerk, and it is an income not of a hundred and fifty pounds a year, but of four hundred a year that I am to re- ceive. Nor is this all. Our benefactor, your future husband, Ariadne, has given security on my behalf in the amount of five thousand pounds to Mr. Chapman. Oh, never was gen- erosity more noble than this! ” Ariadne could not give utterance to a word. She was well-nigh overpowered by her feelings, but taking Sir Doug- las Huntingdon’s hand, she pressed it to her lips, and that action on her part was ten thousand times more eloquent than all the powers of speech could have been. It was a happy little party of three that sat down that afternoon to the dinner-table in the parlour of the cottage at Islington, and Sir Douglas Huntingdon perhaps never enjoyed a bliss more real, more sincere, or more satisfactory in all his life. Reader, he did not take his departure that evening until he had received from Ariadne’s lips her assent that the bridal should be celebrated at the expiration of three weeks, so that her brother, who was compelled to leave England shortly, might be present at it. Sai nin