The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

A REVELATION 265 \ with her uncle’s full concurrence. She assured him that never should she prove faithless to the troth that she had pledged, and that if it were written in the book of destiny that they were not born for each other, yet that never would she bestow her hand where her heart was not likewise given. Thus the letter — though containing a fiat of complete severance for the present, and Heaven alone could tell for how long a period — was nevertheless precisely such a one as became a young lady of the strictest purity of principle, and which a right-minded youth such as Christian Ashton could not possibly regard without feeling that it raised her more highly than ever in his estimation. In pursuance of the solemn promise given to the Countess of Lascelles, and of that sense of duty to which he was awa- kened, Lord Osmond sought an cpportunity of conversing alone with the earl. This was a few days after the incidents related in the previous chapter, and the interview took place in the library. ‘“My dear father,’ began Adolphus, ‘‘ Il come to request your permission for my temporary absence from home.”’ ‘“‘ Well, it’s very proper in you to request my permission,” responded the earl; ‘ there is nothing like obedience. I think I have often told you that I was a very obedient son. Indeed, it was one of my virtues. I recollect that I never ven- tured on the ice after my dear father, the late earl, ordered me to keep off it, which, by the bye, was on the occasion when I fell through and was so nearly drowned that I was six hours in a state of suspended animation. But about this absence of yours, — where are you going to? ”’ ‘““T purpose, my dear father, to travel on the Continent for a year or two —” “There is certainly nothing like travelling,” remarked the earl, ‘‘ as indeed my book will show when it is published. I question, however, if you will pick up enough in Europe to fill two large volumes, for travels are nothing at all without lions and bears and crocodiles and snakes. Why, would you believe it, the moment Mr. Bentley, the publisher, — he is publisher in ordinary to her Majesty, you know, although I certainly never had the honour of meeting with any book bearing her Majesty’s name on the title page — However, as | was about to state, the moment Mr. Bentley advertised ‘ a forthcoming work of travels by the Right Honourable the (FO) GoOmiilGaooks