The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

158 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Then, snatching up the candlestick, and without waiting for a reply, much less to answer any of the questions which the young nobleman might think fit to put relative to all these singular proceedings, she abruptly quitted the room, closing the door behind her. On descending the ladder- stairs she found Chiffin waiting below with eager impatience to learn the cause of those sudden emotions on her part which had not merely made her cry out and drop the candle, but also abandon all in a moment the murderous intent that had been harboured against her guest. Having hastily hghted the candle again, in the room where the supper-things were, she said, in a low but resolute tone, “Remain you here quietly, and I will explain everything. I cannot tell you now, but when he is safe out of the house — ”’ ‘What?’ asked Chiffin, his countenance becoming as dark as night, ‘‘do you mean that he is to escape us? ” ‘‘ Yes, I do mean so,” returned the woman, in whose looks there was a strange firmness mingled with a sort of wild agitation. ‘‘ You have known me well enough, Chifin, and I should think too well, not to be aware that I am acting for the! best.” “Well, it may be so,” growled the Cannibal, savagely, ‘“ but it seems a strange way of doing things.” ‘Tt is nevertheless my way,” rejoined Madge, with a still more dogged air of determination. ‘‘So sit down, take some brandy to put you into a better humour, and wait till I return. I shall be with you again in three or four minutes. Here, lend me the candle; you can manage for yourself in the dark till I come back.”’ Having thus spoken, Madge Somers took up the candle and left the room, closing the door behind her. Meanwhile Edmund, considerably relieved from his terrors by the assurances of safety which: the woman had given him, but thoroughly bewildered by the strangeness of the whole proceeding, had lost no time in resuming his apparel, and he had scarcely dressed himself when she reappeared with a light in her hand. He immediately fixed his eyes upon her, to see whether she came with any hostile intent; and though there was certainly little to glean of an encouraging character from a countenance naturally sinister and repulsive, yet at the same time he beheld nought CONNIE DOO KS (E(0)