The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

THE JOURNEY | 211 such an appetite must be endowed with an iron constitu- tion. ‘ Well, how are we this morning? ”’ he asked, in his bland- est tones, as he took Lady Bess’s hand. ‘‘ Pulse somewhat feverish, eh? ” Lady Bess thought that Mr. Hood’s pulse would be very likely to beat quickly if he had ridden nearly eighty miles in five hours and a half; but though she experienced an almost irresistible inclination to burst out into the merriest laugh, she nevertheless so far controlled herself as to subdue that desire and modulate her voice into faint and languid tones, as she said, ‘‘ I feel somewhat better now, doctor. But I was very, very ill in the night, and I feared that the fit was coming on just now again when the landlord went to fetch you.” ‘Ah! you must have another draught,” said Mr. Hood. ““ No appetite, I suppose? ”’ ‘“* Not in the least,’ answered Lady Bess; and she chonglit it would be very odd if she had, after the quantities of cold fowl, ham, and buttered toast she had partaken of within the past half-hour. “Well, you must have a little gruel presently, with a piece of dry toast,” said Mr. Hood. “I am convinced I never should be able to take it,” rejoined Lady Bess; and Kate Marshall turned away to the window in order to prevent herself from bursting out into a laugh in the doctor’s face. “Oh, you must take some sustenance,’ exclaimed Mr. Hood, “ but of a light character, for you are still feverish. When did this indisposition commence? ”’ “The lady arrived here last evening about seven o’clock,”’ Mrs. Marshall hastened to observe, “‘ and she complained very soon afterward, didn’t she, Kate? ”’ ‘“ Yes, mother,’’ was the response given by the eldest daughter. “And then it was a little after three in the morning, I suppose, that you got so bad, ma’am?”’ said the doctor, addressing his patient, “‘for I learn from my assistant that 1t was about that time he was rung up.”’ ‘““T really took no note of the hour,’’ answered Lady Bess, “but I know that I had been suffering ever since I went to bed, before the fit seized upon me.”’ CORNICLOOO® <S (FO)