The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

THE COTTAGE 111 consisted of two rooms on the ground floor, divided by a little passage, and the same number of rooms above, which were reached by what might by courtesy be termed a flight of stairs but was in reality only a dilapidated ladder. The room into which the woman conducted her visitor was furnished in the most wretched manner, a crazy table, three or four chairs the rush bottoms of which were broken in, and some few articles of crockery upon a shelf, constituting the principal features of that part of the dwelling. A glance into the other room as he entered had shown Edmund a scanty bed upon the floor, and one or two chairs almost as useless as those in the room to which he was introduced. The woman appeared to be alone in the house; at least Lord Saxondale saw no other person in either of the two rooms on the ground floor, nor did he hear any one moving over- head. ‘“ You see the place into which you have invited yourself,”’ said the woman, “ but such as it 1s, you are welcome to make it a convenience for resting in. For what other purpose you have sought the cottage, you will perhaps explain at your leisure,’ and once more she fixed her eyes upon him with a scrutinizing look. “ What makes you think that I have some other purpose in view?”’ he asked, observing how she gazed at him. ‘Because a young gentleman like you,” she at once answered, “‘ does not knock at such a place as this without a motive. If you did not choose to mingle with the working- class people that you seem to despise so much, you would have lain down on the dry grass to rest yourself — ”’ ‘| see that you are a very shrewd woman indeed,’’ inter- rupted Edmund, laughing, “ and perhaps if. I confess that I had an object in knocking at your old tumble-down hut, you will not mind giving me the intormation I want, — especially as here is something to oil your tongue for you.”’ As he thus spoké, he drew forth a well-filled purse, the contents being a portion of the proceeds of Mr. Gunthorpe’s cheque, and taking out a sovereign, with true aristocratic indifference in respect to the value of the money, he tossed it into the lap of the woman who had seated herself at a httle distance from him. ‘““ Now, then, tell me what you want,” she said, taking up the coin coldly and leisurely, as if it were by no means so GOmichoo <S) (S(O)