The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XV THE AVOWAL AND THE DEBATE THoucH Horace had taken more than usual pains with his morning’s toilet, in order to divest himself of an agitated appearance, his looks nevertheless at once showed that something unpleasant had occurred. Venetia instantane- ously suspected that he had discovered the circumstance of Malpas having passed the night with her, and that he had come to reproach her. Not that he had any right, after the convenient compact made between him and his wife, to interfere with her little peccadilloes, but still it would have been natural enough for him to feel annoyed and disgusted at any seeming favour which she might have shown to such a wretch as Malpas. Retaining, however, her self-possession, which indeed she seldom lost in the presence of others, she at once said, “ Horace, something has occurred. What is the matter with you? ”’ ‘“My dearest Venetia,’ he answered, placing himself by her side upon the sofa, ‘‘I have something important to tell you, something that you will doubtless hear from other lips presently, and which therefore you had better in the first instance hear from mine.” ‘But what is it?’’ she exclaimed, ‘‘ something terrible, that it requires so solemn a pretace? ”’ ‘“T do not know whether you will scold me for getting into this scrape,’ said Horace, affecting a laugh, but it was only a sickly attempt at mirth. “Ah! then it is some dilemma which you have got your- self into? ”’ she said, now suddenly and completely relieved from any fears on her own account. ‘‘ But what have you been doing, you naughty Horace? ”’ 135 GOmMiicdoo! cS (C(O) mM