The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

CHRISTINA AND THE AYAH 2995 Princess Indora was likely to be offended if it came to her knowledge that her Hindu attendant made use of her prog- ress in her English studies to peep into those files of the Times. On the following morning Christina received a note from Zoe, requesting her if possible to call upon her in the course of that day. It was most affectionately worded, but made not the slightest allusion to Lord Octavian. It informed Christina that the health of the writer continued to be very bad, and that the physician had ordered her to go abroad for change of air. “If Zoe be really acquainted with her husband’s unfortu- nate love for me,” said our heroine to herself, ‘‘ I can scarcely think that she would invite me to the house, unless perfectly confident that Lord Octavian will not be present. ‘here- fore I will go.” : In order to do Christina full justice, we must observe that if she had for a moment fancied she would meet Lord Octa- vian at the house in the Regent’s Park, she would not have gone; she would have even preferred the alternative of appearing ungrateful and unkind to Zoe. She showed the letter to the princess, who at once gave her assent, and placed the carriage at Christina’s disposal. On reaching her desti- nation, she found Zoe alone in the drawing-room, and the amiable girl was shocked by her friend’s appearance. Pale, ill, and languid as she was on the former occasion, she looked infinitely more sickly now. She was reclining upon a sofa, and it was with a visible effort she raised herself up to a sitting posture to greet our heroine. “ My dear Zoe, you are indeed very ill,” said Christina, the tears starting from her eyes as she embraced her friend. “ Yes, I suffer much — from indisposition,’’? responded Zoe, in the mild voice of completest resignation, ‘‘ and as I told you in my letter, I am going abroad. Those whose assent it was necessary to obtain have given it, and I shall depart with as little delay as possible.” Zoe evidently alluded to her father and her husband, but Christina was struck by the manner in which she thus spoke of them, as if she studiously yet delicately avoided the mention of Lord Octavian’s name. “I think I shall go to the south of France or to Italy,” continued Zoe, ‘‘ and perhaps a more genial climate may COnnicooolks (C(O)