The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XI LORD AND LADY HOLDERNESS Ir was six o’clock in the evening, and the domestic had just placed the dessert upon the table in the dining-room at the dwelling of Lord Holderness in Cavendish Square. His lordship was seated with his bride in that apartment, where the thick curtains were drawn over the windows and the soft lustre shed by the lamps was reflected in the decan- ters filled with yellow, rosy, and dark wines. Upon the board glowed the golden orange and the rich grape of Portugal; dried fruits, sweet cakes, and the various acces- sories to a dessert in winter-time likewise appeared in crystal dishes. The fire blazed cheerfully in the grate, and, to out- ward seeming, nought was wanting to complete the happi- ness of a man who had just been created a peer and who had taken a lovely young wife unto his bosom. But he whom we so lately spoke of as Mr. Clarendon, and whom we are now to denominate by the haughty title of Lord Holderness, was not happy — no, far from it. He had obtained a wife who was ravishingly beautiful, it was true; but he had lost his daughters, who were more lovely still, and who might have proved his pride and comfort in his old age. The beautiful wife he had not wooed: she had forced herself upon him, and though but a few days had elapsed since they were united, he had already been taught to quail beneath her imperious temper and succumb ignominiously to her despotic will. Nor was Pauline there to soothe him; no, nor his Octavia to comfort him. He felt that he was childless, and the young wife whom he had placed at the head of his household made not his dwelling a happy home. During the whole of dinner-time, and while the liveried footmen were present, but little conversation had passed 102 COMIC OOO S (C@ mM