Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 115 lowing, with a grim, professional face, which expressed vol- umes of disapprobation. With a meek glance upon the ground, and secret hectic tinging all her veins, my sister, too lovely for the eye of scorn, was led up through the throng, and given a seat be- side her counsel. The trial commenced. The counsel for the prisoner and on behalf of the State, unrolled their briefs, with glances of quiet antagonism at each other. Anxiously, I read the face of the opposing lawyer, and strove to make an estimation of his capabilities. Mr. Speingle was an eminent lawyer, and had thrown the whole of his talent and interest into my sister’s case. The indictment was read, proceedings were speedily under way, and I sat with my hand tight clasped in my mother’s, a breathless and anxious spectator. At last witness number one, for the prosecution, was called, and a lady clothed in black came forward from a conspicuous seat, and placed herself in the witness-box, bowing with the air of an empress to the officer who held open the door. | She raised her crape vail, erected herself, and glanced haughtily round, and I looked with wonder on the face of Lilha Meredith, yet so different from the simple and timid girl [ had seen her, that I could not at first assure myself it was she. Her figure seemed expanded and was taller, fuller, and more assertive; her face, which had been re- sponsive to every simple emotion, was hardened into a scornful look of determination; her large blue eyes seemed unpleasantly bright, and too much like the cold, glittering sparkles of a glacier. ‘There was plenty of health, with head- strong spirit, to support all this show of resolution; care had not blanched or thinned her cheek; sorrow had not crept into her eyes. It was a heartless, selfish soul that looked out of those bold, handsome eyes upon my sister, drooping hehind the prisoners bar. She deposed that Isolina Rienzi had left the hall of the Cybelle Society at ten o’clock on the night of the twenty- ninth of November, in company with Mr. Cecil Beaumont, and left a message for Mr. Rienzi that she had gone home inasleigh. ‘That she had not gone home, but had driven straight on with Mr. Beaumont, and had not been heard of since, until her friends found her in a private asylum for CORNUCG OOO S (©)