The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

YOUTHFUL LOVE 167 home. That was the first occasion on which I ever beheld the person who then called himself Mr. Gibson. He informed me that he was the Earl of Lascelles’ confidential agent, and that he was empowered to provide for me temporarily, until my uncle should make up his mind in respect to other arrangements. Everything was done in a hurry, and by Mrs. Hickman’s recommendation, a lodging was procured for me in the house of her deceased husband’s clerk, where, Christian,’’ added Isabella, with a soft blush, “‘ we first met.”’ There was another pressure of the hand on the part of the enamoured youth, and he observed, *‘ But the change from a residence with a genteel family to the abode of those coarse, vulgar people — ”’ “ T do not think it was altogether my uncle’s fault,’’ in- terrupted Isabella, ‘“‘ and I will presently explain wherefore. First of all I must tell you that the earl’s valet — whom I then knew only by the name of Gibson — repeated the in- junction which I had originally received from Mrs. Hick- man, — to the effect that I was never in my new home to make the slightest allusion to the Earl of Lascelles, never to speak of him as my uncle, never to mention that my de- ceased mother had belonged to a noble and titled family. He also informed me that I must on no account form any new acquaintances. Indeed, Makepeace spoke far more plainly on these subjects, and therefore less delicately, than Mrs. Hickman had formerly done, for he gave me to understand that if I violated his injunction —if I spoke of my uncle either in language of boasting or complaint — his lordship would abandon me altogether, and withdraw whatsoever he purposed to allow for my support.” “Ah, this was most. cruel,’’ exclaimed Christian, his blood tingling with indignation, and he thought to himself that he should never again be able to endure the old earl’s presence with even an ordinary degree of patience. “Yes, it was cruel,’’ said Isabella, *‘ for if my poor mother had mortally offended her relatives, it was not well for them to visit their rancour upon the head of her orphan daughter. However, I accepted my destiny with resignation; I prom- ised to obey the injunction so earnestly given, and now, Christian, you can comprehend wherefore it was that when you so kindly offered that your sister should pay me a visit, I was compelled to refuse, and yet I could give you no expla- CONnNIEOOOKS (C(O)