The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

276 REYNOLDS’ WORKS expected by her, and Adolphus, with a sudden start, con- templated her in mingled surprise and terror. “No, never, never, Adolphus,” she exclaimed, springing up from her chair, her cheeks flushing and her eyes flashing with an almost frenzied excitement. ~ ‘ What! you marry Isabella? No, no! I could not live to behold you another’s. But perhaps you have never loved me? ”’ and as the thought smote her with a sudden anguish, she sank down again upon the chair weeping bitterly. | “Ethel, dearest Ethel,” exclaimed the young man, throwing himself at her feet, seizing both her hands, and pressing them in fervour to his lips, ‘‘ you know that I love you, — dearly, devotedly, madly love you. Wherefore, then, this cruel suspicion? Ah, think you that if I loved you not as much as my lips proclaim, I should have been enabled to stifle all good feelings in my heart at the time when I believed it was my own father’s wife —” “Enough, enough,’ cried. Ethel, hysterically, and then with a sudden solemnity of look and manner, she added, in a low tone, “‘ At all events we are rescued from that deep sense of stupendous guilt.” “Tell me what you would have me do, dearest Ethel,”’ said Adolphus, “‘ and your slightest word shall become the strongest law for me. But remember, dear Ethel, my position is not merely a painful one, — it is absolutely fright- buses “T know —I know it,’’ exclaimed the countess, again speaking with a kind of hysterical frenzy, “‘ and therefore it is impossible for me to advise you. Do what you will, but if your position be frightful, mine is almost desperate, and sooner than behold you compelled to lead another to the altar —”’ She stopped short, and Adolphus wgs terrified by the strange, wild look of mingled frenzy and despair which for a few moments seemed stamped upon her countenance. “Good heavens! what am I to do?” he exclaimed, starting up from his kneeling position at her feet, and begin- ning to pace the room with agitated and uneven steps. “I feel as if I were going mad.”’ “ And I,” cried the countess, in a thrilling voice, “ feel as if I were mad already. Oh, why did I ever love youas I have done? Wherefore do I love you so passionately still?” CONNIE MOO KS