The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

—s THE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT 173 and swallow him up; but when pointedly asked by Lady Saxondale which part of the turbot he preferred, he looked as if he thought there was a design to entrap him into some snare or take an advantage of him. In this way his lordship helped to render the ceremonials of the dinner-table more coldly ceremonious still, and the formalities more icily formal. As for Lady Saxondale, she did the honours of the table with the dignified grace and well-bred courtesy becoming her rank, and also her position as mistress of the house; but despite all her efforts to throw a veil over the thoughts that were agitating within her brain, there were nevertheless moments when the keen eye of Juliana could detect a sudden expression of anguish flitting over her mother’s proud countenance, and she likewise noticed the almost preterhuman effort which on those occasions her ladyship exerted to rise dominant, as it were, above the internal agony that was torturing her. More than ever, therefore, was Juliana’s curiosity excited, and in the secret depths of her own mind did she resolve by some means or another to penetrate the mystery. It was not till past nine o’clock that the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room, and the gentlemen were left at table to drink a few more glasses of wine ere summoned to partake of coffee. Thank Heaven, the disgusting and bestial system of sitting for hours over the wine, after the ladies have retired, has of late years been rapidly falling into desuetude, English habits in this respect yielding to the civilizing influences of French examples. But still, at dinner-parties, the gentlemen persist in remaining a little while to enjoy a jovial glass until coffee be served up in the drawing-room, and so it was upon the present occasion. Mr. Marlow, glad to be relieved from the shackles of those. formalities which had hitherto prevailed, began to rattle away with his wonted volubility, and quite alarmed Lord Petersfield by suddenly asking that nobleman which his lordship preferred, generally speaking, the French or Rhenish wines. The cautious diplomatist gave Mr. Marlow an awful look, as if he shrewdly suspected the cunning lawyer meant to take. some advantage of him by so pointed a question. Then, in grave and solemn tones, he announced that it was a subject which, considering the rival interests that existed in respect to wines between France and Germany, he could not possibly CONNIE OOOkKS (SO)