The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

140 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the sudden conviction that swept in unto her soul that he was paying her an attention to which his own wife-had the prior claim, though that wife was left neglected upon the ground. And there Zoe still lay, with her eyes closed, al- though at the first instant that Christina’s glances were flung upon her, it struck her that those eyes were half-open. The next instant, however, she supposed it to be mere fancy on her part. Octavian raised Zoe in his arms. He inquired kindly enough if she were injured; to do him justice, too, he also ap- peared much distressed; but there were none of those same wildly vehement and thrillingly impassioned ejaculations which had burst from his lips in respect to Christina. Zoe appeared to be entirely deprived of consciousness; she lay along, half-supported in her husband’s arms, her head resting upon his shoulder, and he continuing to inquire whether she were hurt. ‘Oh, for assistance,” exclaimed Christina, wringing her hands in utter bewilderment; ‘‘ what can I-do? Whither can I go? My benefactress! my friend! Oh, dearest, dearest Zoe,’ and the young damsel, now throwing herself upon her knees, in a gush of uncontrollable emotion seized Lady Octavian’ s form from Meredith’s arms, and locked it in her own fervid embrace. She felt Zoe’s bosom heaving Fle her own, as 1f with the prolonged sigh of returning life; then suddenly the tears deluged forth from the lady’s eyes, and flinging her arms around Christina’s neck, she wept convulsively. Our young heroine breathed the most tender and soothing words in her ears, again addressing her as a benefactress and a friend, beseeching her to compose herself, and give not way to this outburst, which she naturally supposed to be purely hysteri- cal, — the effects of the accident which had just occurred. But Zoe only appeared to cling all the more tenaciously to her affectionate friend’s neck, until seeming suddenly to recollect that her husband was present, she started to her feet and flung herself into his arms. She now grew composed, and Octavian, hastily inquiring of them both whether they felt ~ much injured, was assured that beyond a few bruises neither of the ladies had received any physical hurt. But now what was to be done? The horses, as if satisfied with upsetting the chaise, had stcod still, but the vehicle was CONNIE OO KS