The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

THE EARL’S VENGEANCE 1id from the darkness into the passage which was well lighted; and now from within the depths of her hood did Gertrude fling a quick, searching, and anxious glance upon the earl. ‘“ Dearest Editha, how happy do I feel with you to-night! ”’ he said, in a tone of such well-assumed tenderness and sin- cerity that Gertrude was still more confused and bewildered than ever, for though he met the quick and sidelong glance which she threw up at him, he did not appear to notice that it was not the countenance of his wife. “ What can it mean?’’ asked Gertrude within herself. “Does he actually take me for his Editha? Or is it all a horrible mockery which must presently end in some suddenly outbreaking storm? His conduct is not natural; no, it is not natural. He must have known that it was not his wife whom he ere now clasped in his arms.”’ The girl’s musings were suddenly cut short by an obser- vation which Lord Curzon now made. ‘“ By the bye,’’ he exclaimed, “ that dear, amiable, kind- hearted Lady Lechmere, who has been the means of procuring me this pleasant téte-a-téte with my own dear wife, said that she would wait in this room.” Thus speaking, the Earl of Curzon stopped suddenly at a door in the passage, and unlocking it so quickly that Gertrude, whose head was muffled in the hood of the cloak, could scarcely tell whether it had been thus fastened or not, he threw open the door. “Now, my dear Lady Lechmere,” he immediately said, as the patrician procuress hastily came forth, “‘ we are going to take our departure. I can assure you that my sweet Editha and myself have passed an hour of unfeigned enjoy- ment. Strange as such a @éte-a-téte between husband and wife may seem at the house of a friend instead of beneath their own roof, it nevertheless has its advantages; for I can assure you, my dear Lady Lechmere, that on the present occasion Editha and I have so completely made up all past differences that we are better friends than on the day we were married. This temporary absence of mine has been beneficial in making us each reflect upon our little faults and failings toward one another, and, henceforth, we mean to prove an example to societv. — a true pattern couple.” Thus sneaking, in a hurried manner, but with a cheerful air, Lord Curzon, who had given an arm to Lady Lechmere, CORNICLOOL ‘Ss (C(O) mM