The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

THE LADY AND THE PAGE do | on my soul. But in this design I was disappointed. When the concert broke up, some portion of the visitors took their departure by one avenue of egress and some portion by another, and thus I missed the two ladies whom I so anx- iously sought. From that day forth I have never again seen them.” “ Did they not visit the palace again?” asked Juliana. “ T cannot say,” replied Francis, “ for within a week I was somewhat summarily informed that my further services would be dispensed with, inasmuch as some reduction was to be made in certain departments of the royal household, and that the juniors in each were to be first dismissed. I was however assured that so far from any fault being found with me, I had given the utmost satisfaction, and as a proof thereof three months’ salary was paid and the best testi- monials presented to me. I could not help thinking that the true cause had not been assigned for my dismissal. A secret voice appeared to whisper within me to the effect that it was found inconvenient, and perhaps dangerous, in certain quarters to stand the chance of being accosted or importuned by me when visiting the palace. However, the day came for me to leave, and I departed accordingly.”’ | “Then, no doubt you remembered Lord Petersfield’s promise?” said Juliana, inquirinely. “ Yes, but it was far less with the idea of seeking his aid in procuring another situation than to have an opportunity of pleading my cause before him once more, that I sought him at his mansion. The moment I sent up my name his lordship received me, and received me too with kindness; that is to say, with as much kindness as it is in his nature to show. I told him of my dismissal from the palace, at which he appeared to be surprised, though in my own mind I had the intuitive conviction that this surprise was merely feigned on his part. I threw myself at his feet, beseeching and imploring that he would say but one word to lift the veil which enveloped the past in so much mystery, but he was immovable. He pretended to pity me, and affected to be- lieve that I must be labouring under some monomaniac idea. In short, I could obtain nothing from him in the shape of revelation. He spoke kindly to me, as I ere now said, and observed that he could at once help me to another situation, as he happened to be aware at the time that his friend Lady CONNIE OOOKS (EO)