The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

160 REYNOLDS’ WORKS out the risk of exciting any suspicion on the part of the younger pair as to the illicit intimacy existing between them. Thus was it that both Lord Osmond and the countess had every reason to be pleased that Christian was so much at the house, and for the same motive the young nobleman did not choose to pay any marked attention to Isabella, even though - by so doing he might the more effectually have lulled the earl into complete security in respect to the countess. One day Miss Vincent was to be presented at court at one of the royal drawing-rooms. The Countess of Lascelles, as a peeress, was to introduce the young lady, but when the ap- pointed day came, she was really indisposed and unable to leave the house. Isabella’s naturally retiring disposition would have shrunk from this ceremony which to her had the aspect of an unpleasant ordeal, but it was a whim of her uncle’s, and therefore must be gratified. He was resolved that the presentation should take place, and therefore as the countess could not assist in it, the earl speedily enlisted the services of two titled ladies of his acquaintance. The fact is, the old nobleman was getting wearied of his son’s delay — as he thought it — in openly proposing for Isabella’s hand, and therefore he was resolved to accomplish another of his fine strokes of policy. He fancied that if Isabella were seen apparelled with all the elegance, taste, and richness which were inseparable from court costume, her appearance would be so ravishing that Adolphus could not possibly for another moment resist beseeching her to name the nuptial day. And truly beautiful indeed was Isabella Vincent on this occasion. Her glossy dark brown hair, showering in ringlets upon her shoulders of dazzling whiteness, was decorated with a single white camellia, —a fitting emblem of her own immaculate purity. The dress that she wore — combining the necessary attributes above specified — set off her tall, slender, sylphid shape to the utmost advantage; while the fear that she might not acquit herself properly heightened the colour upon her cheeks, which made her seem the fairest image of modest loveliness that ever mortal eye rested upon. And to court Isabella went, but while proceeding thither in the carriage with her lady chaperons, while ascending the staircase at the palace, in the midst of a throng of all that was highest in rank, most brilliant in beauty, and most eminent in respect to state dignitaries, while passing through “i Gomichbooks: co