The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

74 REYNOLDS’ WORKS I have got a thundering headache and want to go and lie down.” ‘Unhappy boy, you are adopting a suicidal course by these profligacies and dissipations,’ cried Lady Saxondale. “But beware! ‘Tractable and obedient as Florina is to the will of her aunt, yet if her delicacy be shocked by a discovery of the full extent of your vices she may assert her right to have her own happiness considered, and thus with- draw from the engagement.”’ ‘No, I don’t think it at all likely,’ rejoined the young man, superciliously. ‘‘In the first place, I know she is desperately fond of me; and, in the second place, it is too sood a match for her, poor and portionless as she is, to break off.’’ ‘“T hope that your opinions are indeed a founded,” said Lady Saxondale. “ But I will now come to the point and explain to you the purport for which I desired this interview. Your guardians, Lord Petersfield and Mr. Malton, paid me a visit yesterday, and we had a long and serious conversation together. ‘They positively insist that I withdraw you for a time from the temptations of a London life, and I therefore propose that we repair to Saxondale Castle to pass some time, — perhaps the whole interval until your majority. Lady Macdonald and Florina will be our visitors there, so that you may enjoy the company of your intended bride.’’ “What, go and bury myself in that out-of-the-way place! ”’ exclaimed Edmund, starting up from the sofa. “ No, I’ll be hanged 1f I do!” “Tn that case,” responded Lady Saxondale, endeavouring to maintain her dignified calmness, but all the evidences of her ill-suppressed indignation betraying themselves in her flushing cheeks, her fire-darting eyes, and her quivering lips, “‘ in that case,” she repeated, with strong accentuation, “it is Lord Petersfield’s resolve to obtain for you the post of attaché to some distant and petty embassy, so as to remove you from London.” ‘“ And what if I refuse to go, eh? What then? ’’ demanded the young lord, with mingled insolence and malignity. “Then, as it is in her Majesty’s service,’ replied Lady Saxondale, ‘‘ you will be ordered abroad, and at your peril will you refuse.” CONNIE OO! KS (E(0)