The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

300 REYNOLDS’ WORKS was enabled to woo to her eyes though lying in that sumptu- ous bed. Her heart felt as if scorpions were tearing it, for though she had declared that she could hate Deveril as keenly as she had loved him, — and though she was even meditating revenge, — yet was she still devoured by a con- suming passion for that splendidly handsome young man. And she was tortured, too, with jealousy on account of the unknown rival to whom she felt assured his heart was devoted, and whom she longed to punish. When morning dawned Lady Saxondale arose ee the — sumptuous couch where she had only been enabled to snatch a few hours of troubled slumber, — a slumber too which was haunted with feverish dreams. She looked at herself in the glass, and, perceiving that she was pale and somewhat careworn, she stamped her foot impatiently, muttering to herself, ‘‘ New cares, new sources of annoyance and vexation, arising up around me. This must not be.”’ And yet she did not put a stop to any of these self-created sources of vexation by at once abandoning her projects of vengeance in respect to Wiliam Deveril. No; the strong- minded woman was now enslaved by her passions, — those passions which for so many long years she had dominated as an empress-tyrant keeps her foot upon the neck of a rebellious people. It was between two and three o’clock in the afternoon that Lady Saxondale’s carriage stopped at the house of Lady Macdonald in Cavendish Square, and as she ascended toward the drawing-room, she settled her countenance in such a manner that it seemed to wear a look as lf a sense of some ludicrous yet disagreeable scene were lingering in the mind. Lady Macdonald and Florina were seated to- eether in the drawing-room when Lady Saxondale was announced, and they both at once observed the singular look which her ladyship’s features thus wore. “Has anything unpleasant occurred, my dear friend? ”’ asked Lady Macdonald, when the usual greetings and complimentary inquiries were exchanged. ‘“ Unpleasant?’ echoed Lady Saxondale, as if surprised that she should be thus questioned. ‘‘ Oh, I suppose that my looks must have reflected somewhat of the topic I was revolving in my mind as I rode hither. Well, I did not mean to tell you, but after all, I do not know why I should keep CONNIE NOOO KS (E(0)