The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE HUSBAND’S RETURN 103 “Ah! now you terrify me,”’ accents of dismay. “Did no suspicion strike you when you received that letter? ’’ asked Lord Sackville. ‘“‘ Situated as you are with your husband, and with the great coolness existing between you, it is not probable that he would write you a letter of such a character unless it were meant to throw you off your guard and cover some deep design which he has formed. How often has he written to you during this nearly five months’ absence of his upon the Continent? ”’ “Only twice, and then in the most laconic manner,’ answered the countess. ‘‘ Indeed, I showed you his letters. One from Milan, the other from Geneva — ” “And they both stated that you need not write to him in reply, as his movements were so uncertain he could not be assured of remaining long enough at any one place to receive answers from England? ’’ “And accordingly,” rejoined Editha, ‘‘ I never did write to him during his absence -— ”’ ‘An absence,’ added Lord Sackville, ‘‘ for which he condescended to allege no reason.” ‘An absence indeed,” said Editha, ‘“‘ as unaccountable as the journey itself was suddenly undertaken. But of all that I do not complain, —I have no right to complain, — and you well know why,” she added, in a tone of mingled tenderness and melancholy. ‘Yes, dearest Editha, I do indeed now feel that matters are approaching a crisis,’ responded Sackville, also with exclaimed the countess, in alarm in his tone. “ Depend upon it that at this very mo- ment some danger is hanging over our heads, or we are about to fall into some snare that is set for us. Instead of your husband returning to-morrow night, I will stake my existence that he will be back to-night. Perhaps he has already arrived. Ah! I can see it all. Suspecting you, he thinks that such a letter as he has written will produce the very effect which it has indeed produced, namely, to prompt you to make the most of the few hours that thus seem to be yours previous to his return to-morrow night.”’ “ Yes, yes, I partake all your terrors, I see it all in the same light as yourself,’”’ said Editha, who was truly unhappy. ‘““ Indeed when that letter came at nine o’clock this evening, delivered by some messenger who immediately departed, I CORNICLOOL ‘S (C(O) am