The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

5 AT LASCELLES’ MANSION 157 at unnecessary length upon guilt which under all circum- stances was so deep, so deadly. The silly old earl lost no time in putting his precious scheme into execution. Christian came at the usual time that day, and having written to his noble employer’s dicta- tion for three or four hours, and an astounding admixture of mendacity, self-conceit, and nonsense it was that he had thus to write, he was about to depart, when the earl caught him by the arm, and addressed him as follows: “ You are a very good youth, and I am very much at- tached to you, but you must not put two b’s in shrubbery for the future. You are to dine with me to-day. Make your- self look as spruce as possible, and come at six o’clock. There will only be ourselves, the countess, Lord Osmond, and my niece; make yourself quite at home, and don’t hesitate to pay such little attentions to Miss Vincent as a young gentle- man is bound to show toward a young lady. Why, God bless me, how crimson you turn! You blush just like a woman! Pooh! no diffidence. Mind you hand Isabella down to dinner, sit next to her, and talk without restraint. And now go, for I mean to sit down for an hour or two and invent — | mean make notes of some more adventures for our occupation to-morrow.” Christian went away astounded, as well indeed he might be. What could it possibly all mean? Had the old lord sus- pected his passion for the beautiful Isabella? Did he sus- pect likewise that his niece had not regarded the youth with indifference? Did he purpose to favour their loves? Or was he adopting some means to inflict a crushing punish- ment, and overwhelm our presumptuous hero with the most humiliating exposure? But no; Christian could not fancy that this latter conjecture was the solution of the mystery. He had seen quite enough of the earl’s character to be aware that he was incapable of any proceeding that had aught grand or striking in it, and moreover, that if he meditated mischief, he was unable to conceal the pettiness of his mind beneath an air of frank cordiality and kindness. ~ However,” thought Christian to himself, “no matter what his lordship’s motives are, let me think only of the joy afforded by this prospect of passing hours in the society of Isabella.’’ We must observe that Christian had no longer the slightest CONnNIEOOOKS (FO)