The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

CHRISTINA AND THE AYAH 293 terror. But she thought she might at all events ascend to the female servants’ chambers to see if they were there, for the conviction was strong in her mind that she had heard footsteps descending, and that they had not ascended again. Enveloping herself in a muslin wrapper, and taking the candle in her hand, she proceeded up-stairs with a tread as light as if she were a spirit gliding. On reaching the landing _ above, she saw that Sagoonah’s chamber door stood open, and on entering, she found that Sagoonah herself was not there. They were therefore the ayah’s footsteps that she had heard, but why was she thus long absent? The thought now struck Christina that Sagoonah must be ill, and she went down-stairs, still with the same noiseless tread as_ before, in order not to disturb the princess. A light was issuing from the boudoir, the door of which stood open. Christina advanced, and looking in, beheld Sagoonah bending over one of the huge volumes of the 7’1mes newspaper, which were kept in that room. The Hindu woman had her back toward - the door; the volume was spread open upon the table, and she was evidently so absorbed in its contents that she did not catch the rustling of Christina’s dress. The first thought which struck our artless young heroine was that the ayah experienced such an ardent longing to render herself proficient in the English tongue that she was even inclined to sacrifice a portion of her night’s rest to the prosecution of her studies, but all of a sudden she was: startled by the vehement manner in which Sagoonah gave utterance to something in her own native tongue, and which was therefore incomprehensible to the maiden. At the same time Sagoonah stood up from her previously leaning posture, and glancing around, so strange a light flashed from her eyes on beholding Christina that the latter was absolutely terrified. There was an expression of rage too on the ayah’s countenance, where the rich red blood mantled through the duskiness of her complexion, but instantaneously composing herself, she placed her finger to her lips of vivid vermilion, to enjoin silence. Then beckoning Christina to enter the boudoir, she gently closed the door. ) “What made you seek me, Miss Ashton?” asked the ayah, in a voice which though perfectly respectful, never- theless displayed a firm resolution to have her query satisfied ; then, suddenly recollecting something, she hastened to close COnniCclooolks (SO)