Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

30 . ANGELINA; OR, her uncle. The more she dwelt upon these perploaing subjects, the more did she become bewildered in the mazes of doubt and uncertainty. She felt a pre- sentiment of some impending evil, but in vain tried to imagine what it could be or who could wish or have any interest in annoying their humble and inoffensive family. The following morning’s repast was scarcely over, when looking ont at the cottage door, she was astonished to behold the Baron de Morton approaching. She shuddered involuntarily as she gaged upon him, and remembered the words she had heard him utter the night before, and the terror he had evinced on be- holding her. What had passed between him and Rafus too, io the ruins, fally convinced her that the weight of some dark deods of former days weighed heavily upon his conscience, and strange as the idea appeared to be, sho could not help imagining that she was in eome way or the other connected with him. Anxious as she was to learn what could bo his reason for visiting the cottages she did not like to meet him again, ebe therefore excused herself to her uncle, and left the cottage by a back way, just as the Baron entered it. The Baron de Morton greeted Mr. Woodfield with unusual condescension and politeness, but there was something sarepulsive in the restless glaro of his eyea that Mr. Woodfield could not help feeling uncomfortable in bis presence. “To what may I attribute the honour of this visit, my lord?” asked Mr Woodfteld. ‘‘ Simply to a wish I have to puta few questions of the utmost importance to you, Mr. Woodfield ;” replied the baron, ** can we be alone ?” Mr. Woodfield bowed, and led the way to the room up stairs, where the astonished dame and her daughter heard him lock the door. They remained here for above an hour, and they frequently spoke in very loud tones, and seemed as if they wero quarrelling ; but noither Laura nor her mother could distinguish any more than a disjointed sentence hero and there, which served only to in- volve them in still greater mystery. At length the room door was opened, and the baron desconded the stairs, followed by Mr. Woodfield. His face was figshed—he looked stern, and was evidently much excited, and Mr. Wood field betrayed scarcely legs emotion. As the baron was about to leave the cottage, ‘he turned round to Mr. Woodfield, and said— ‘¢ You will do woll to think better of this business, sir,or you may have cause to regret it.” ‘‘ No further reflection, my lord,” replied the other, firmly, ‘* can altef my resolntions and koowing that my conduct is dictated by probity and justice, I do not fear the result.’ . | The baron frowned; fixed his eyes for a moment upon the countenance of Mr. Woodfield, and then, without uttering a word, left the cottage. CHAPTER VIII. Mr. WooprirEtp maintained the most profound silence upon the subject of the Baron s visit to him, and what had been the purport of their conversation ; but it was noticed that he was very dull and thoughtful for many days afterwards, comichooks.com.