The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

304 THE COURT OF LONDON contained. No; for these she recked not now, and the object of her search was nothing more than a small packet of letters tied around with a simple white ribbon. Returning to her seat upon the soia, Venetia began to examine these letters, which were all written in the same hand, and this hand was a beautiful female one, closely resembling her own fluid and elegant writing. But as she ran her eyes over certain passages in that correspondence, the tears rained down her cheeks; and at length she wept so copiously that through the half-blinding floods she beheld the paper and the writing on it as through a mist. But this outpouring of her heart’s long pent-up feelings proved an immense relief, an incalculable solace; and wiping from her eyes the last pearl-drops which hung upon the long, dark, softly curved lashes, she tied up the packet of letters with the white ribbon and restored them to the jewel-box. Then, having consigned the box itself to the secure keeping of the ebony cabinet, she rang the bell for. Jessica. The summons was not answered with the abigail’s wonted promptitude, and after allowing three or four minutes’ license, Venetia rang again. This time the summons was speedily responded to; and Jessica came hurrying into the boudoir, with an apology and an explanation upon her lips for the previous neglect and delay. ‘“T beg your ladyship’s pardon most sincerely,’’ she said; “but I was busily engaged at the moment your ladyship’s bell rang the first time, in seeing that the spare bedroom was put into order —”’ | “The spare bedroom!” ejaculated Venetia, affecting surprise. “Yes, my lady,” returned Jessica; ‘it appears that one of the guests in the saloon has taken the least drop too much.” “Ah! indeed,’’ said Venetia. ‘‘ And who 1s it that has thus forgotten himself? ”’ ‘““T don’t know which of the guests it is, my lady,” replied Jessica; ‘‘ indeed, I didn’t hear his name mentioned at all. My lord,’’ she continued, alluding to Horace, “‘ came out and gave the hurried order that the spare bedroom was to be sot ready immediately, and that was the reason I did not fly to answer your ladyship’s bell when it rang the first time.” ‘“T am not angry, Jessica,” said Venetia, smiling. ‘“ And , CORMICLOOQOLS EO)