The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE HEIR 29 reality was the cause of his uncle’s death. But while looking down upon that countenance which was now peaked, thin, sunken, and wan beneath the finger of the destroyer, his mind was wandering with the speed of a race-horse through- out the sumptuous apartments of the castle, and over the broad domain of Saxondale, all of which he looked upon as his own. , So engrossed was he in these thoughts, even while seeming to contemplate with sadness the face of the dead, that he did not hear the trampling of horses and the rapid rush of wheels, which sounds, however, did reach the chamber. Treading noiselessly over the thick carpet, the nurse, who had caught those sounds, approached the window, and slightly lifting the white blind, which was drawn completely down; she glanced forth. It was still daylight, and the nurse could see plainly enough all objects without. Quickly turning away from the window again, she whispered to Ralph, “It is her ladyship’s travelling-carriage. Poor thing! I suppose she has come back.”’’ ‘“‘ Ah!” ejaculated Ralph, startled from his reverie by this announcement; and then an expression of malignant triumph appeared upon his features as he thought to himself that the moment was now at hand when he should be enabled to exhibit his hatred toward the being whom hé had included amongst the number of those that had been such obstacles in his path. ‘“ Hush! ”’ said the old nurse, placing her finger upon her lip to remind him that so loud an ejaculation was but little suited to the solemnity of the chamber of death; and at the same time she gazed upon him with a half-frightened, half- reproachful look, on account of that malignant expression which had swept over his features. But Ralph, taking little heed of the old woman, advanced to the window, and raising the blind, he looked out. The travelling-carriage was however drawn so close up to the entrance that he could not from that point obtain a view of those who alighted. So he turned away again, and once more approaching the bed, waited till Lady Saxondale should make her appearance, for he naturally conjectured that she would at once repair to the chamber of death. Nor was he mistaken. In a few minutes the door opened slowly, and her ladyship entered. She had thrown off her CONnNIECOOOKS (S(O)