The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

FLORINA 365 lifted, and, as if seized with a mortal terror, she fled pre- dipitately: ~ “ Who is it? What does this mean? ”’ enebaaied Deveril, as he rushed forward in pursuit of Florina, whom he had not recognized, because she was veiled, and because also the elimpse he had caught of her Just outside the front door in the dusk of the garden was so partial and so brief. But, as if inspired by a panic-terror, the young lady-flew away from the spot where it would have seemed pollution and contamination now to linger, and she relaxed not her speed until, exhausted and breathless, she had regained the carriage road inside the Regent’s Park. Then, finding that she was not pursued, she flung herself-on a bench and gave way to the violence of her grief. That flood of tears relieved her so far that she now became capable of deliberate reflection, and wiping her eyes, she said, aloud, ‘‘ This weakness is unworthy of me. What, I bestowed my heart’s purest and sincerest affection upon one who is the unworthiest, the most deceitful, as well as the most profligate of men! Good heavens, is it possible that so much perfidy and wickedness could be concentrated in one so young and apparently so ingenuous? Ah! rude indeed are the teachings of this day, bitter the experiences which within a few brief hours have shed their light upon my soul! I am older by many years in knowledge of the world than I was when I rose from my couch this morning. But enough of these reflections. Let me behave with becoming forti- tude, let me stifle this affection in my heart, let me banish his image from my mind.” Then, as if to outstrip her harrowing thoughts, Lady Florina rose from the seat and began walking hurriedly along the road through the park; and though she felt her heart swelling as if it were about to break, and though the tears kept flowing afresh from her eyes, vet she struggled with all her strength to subdue another outburst of the grief that was thus convulsing her. Her dream of love was over, a sad and terrible change had taken place in her mind, the world’s roses were all withered to her view, earth’s choicest flowers were scattered, blighted and dead, in her pathway, existence stretched before her like a barren waste, and the poor girl felt that she had now nought worth living for. ~ It was about eleven o’clock when Florina reached the house CORNICE OOOKS (C(O)