The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 314: what you’re looking at

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

CHRISTINA AND THE AYAH 297 recognize love in others, and I know that I am not alto- gether indifferent to you.” ‘My lord, I can hear no more,” exclaimed our heroine, with burning blushes upon her cheeks, and she moved toward the door. ‘““ Recollect,’’ he said, hastening to intercept her passage, “if you leave the room thus abruptly Zoe will inquire the reason, and you will have to inform her that I have insulted you, that I have outraged your delicacy, and what a dagger will this be to drive deep down into her heart.”’ “Good heavens, in what a position are you placing me! ”’ murmured Christina, so painfully affected, so bewildered, perplexed, and even anguished, that she knew not what to do. “ Christina. I tell you that I am half-mad,’’ hastily re- joined Lord Octavian Meredith. ‘ Thet angel in human shape is making every sacrifice of feeling for my sake. She knows that I love another, but she does all she can to prevent me irom suspecting that she has that knowledge which is preying upon her very vitals. And now she is going abroad, and she will not allow me to accompany her.”’ ‘““My lord,” interrupted Christina, vehemently, and even with passion, “ it would be infamous, it would be abominable on your part, to allow your wife to go alone in search of that health which you yourself have destroyed, and which, alas! alas! she may perhaps never regain.” “IT take God to witness,’ cried Meredith, still labouring under the strongest excitement, ‘‘ that I have implored and entreated, I have prayed and besought Zoe to permit me to go with her, but she will not. Mild, submissive, and meek in all other respects as she is, she shows herself firm and decided upon this one point. But, oh, the pretexts and excuses which in her magnanimity of soul she invents. She declares that to drag me after her, weak and languid as she is, to have the continued consciousness that I am enchained to an invalid wife, would only render her Continental travel a punishment to herself rather than a means of work- ing a benefit. No, she will not allow me, and she has even succeeded in persuading her father that to regain her health she must go alone.” ‘ My lord,” cried Christina, again speaking vehemently d) CoOnnicloooks (C(O)