The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 199: what you’re looking at

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182 REYNOLDS’ WORKS her ladyship, and therefore he was not taken by surprise on finding Christina there. Ah, but he should not have entered the drawing-room at all, while thus knowing whom he was destined to meet! He had even said so to himself while ascending the stairs, yet an irresistible impulse urged him on; and though conscience told him that he was doing wrong, inclination was stronger than conscience. Assuming an air of mere friendly courtesy, he advanced to Christina, proffering his hand. She hesitatingly gave him hers; he retained it for a single moment, and having ex- changed with her the usual compliments of courtesy, sat down close by Zoe’s easy chair. ‘You did not expect my return so soon, dearest Zoe,’’ he said, as if endeavouring to concentrate the greater part of his attention upon his wife, “ nor did I, when leaving you in the morning, think that I should see you again until the evening. But my father was called into the country on un- foreseen business scarcely an hour ere I arrived, and then I received a message requesting me to postpone my visit till the day aiter to-morrow.”’ “T hope it is nothing unpleasant,” said Zoe, with that amiable placidity and soft mournfulness which had charac- terized her tone and manner ever since the accident that led to her illness. ‘No, nothing of any great consequence,’’ answered Octa- vian, — ‘‘ merely a suddenly discovered defalcation in the accounts of his bailiff, but it 1s to no serious amount.”’ The young nobleman then proceeded, with well-bred facility, to glide into a conversation on general topics, and in which Zoe bore her part, if not with cheerfulness, at least with an apparent interest; though Christina could not help thinking it was really to prevent the discourse from flagging and thereby causing embarrassment to perhaps all three. The young maiden herself spoke but little; the mere necessity of keeping continuously on her guard, so as not to betray that sense of awkwardness that she inwardly and strongly felt, was at times hurrying her to the very brink of confusion. She sat with her eyes bent down, or else with her looks averted in another direction from the spot where Lord Octavian was seated. She did not choose to meet his regards. Not that she in this respect mistrusted herself. It was im- possible for that pure-minded girl to display any significancy CONNIE NO KS (E(6) m