The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

4 THE OPERA BOX 51 ‘“ The house is indeed famously crowded,’ resumed her intended. ‘‘ Won’t she have a brilliant reception!” he exclaimed, in allusion to Signora Vivaldi, the new danseuse who was to make her first appearance there that evening. “My sisters will be mad to think they didn’t come.” “And why are they not here to-night? ”’ asked Florina. “Tt was remiss on my part not to inquire before.”’ “Oh, that’s explained in a very few words,’’ responded Edmund. “‘ In the first place, you must know that my lady mother abominates operas and all that kind of thing, and as she and I had a little tiff this morning, she was less in a humour than ever to come here to-night. Then Juliana was unwell, and so Constance stayed at home to keep them both company.” “JT am sorry to hear that you had any words with Lady Saxondale,”’ remarked Florina, in a serious and even re- proachful tone. “Why, it was all her fault,’”’ answered the young noble- man. ‘“‘ She will persist in treating me like a child, and I don’t choose to stand it. So whenever she gives herself airs, | always let her know I am not tied to her apron- strings. In fact, I told her pretty plainly this morning that she must not take upon herself to lecture me any more, as ‘I am resolved not to put up with it. But what made her particularly savage, was because I had occasion to remind her that the rank and the wealth were all on the male side of the family, and that she herself was originally nothing more than a poor country parson’s daughter.” “You do not mean me to believe that you really spoke thus to your mother?” said Florina, looking up at her » intended with mingled surprise and sorrow; for perhaps the poor girl thought that he who would treat a parent in such a manner was not likely to be overparticular how coarsely and cruelly he behaved toward a wife. “Indeed but I did though,’’ replied Edmund, with a malignant chuckle, as if it were something to congratulate himself upon, “‘ and because old Mabel interfered, I threat- ened to bundle her, neck and crop, out of the house. But, ah, whom do I see down there in the pit?’ and as he thus spoke, he thrust his quizzing-glass into the socket of his eye, screwing up his face so as to retain it there without the necessity of holding it with his hand. COnnIEOOOkKS (EO)