The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 302: what you’re looking at

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THE DEED OF A NIGHT 289 above stated, and they were alone there together. Ethel had so far recovered that she was enabled to ascend without assistance to that apartment, but she was much changed, — the colour had totally forsaken her cheeks, which were haggard and sunken, and the sable garments which she wore, together with the snowy white cap of widowhood, made her look more ghostlike still. We have already said that Adol- phus was changed likewise, and his mourning garb threw out in ghastlier relief the pallor of his own countenance. Ethel was in that drawing-room first, and she was half- reclining on the sofa when Adolphus — now Earl of Lascelles —slowly opened the door and made his appearance. Strange indeed was the look which these two beings threw upon each other, and these looks were precisely similar in their expression. It was with mingled horror, aversion, and reproach that Ethel looked upon Adolphus; 1t was with mingled horror, aversion, and reproach that Adolphus looked upon Ethel. But the next instant the aspect of each countenance changed; Ethel looked with surprise upon Adolphus, as if she had expected another species of gaze on his part, and Adolphus looked with surprise on Ethel, as if her own gaze had equally astonished him. He walked slowly up to her, and fixing his eyes upon her, said, in a low deep voice, “ Ethel, you have sold your soul to Satan on my account.” ‘What, Adolphus,” she exclaimed, “is it possible that you dare hurl the terrific weight of your own crime upon me? ”’ ‘“ Ethel,” quickly rejoined Adolphus, “ this is outrageous — this is horrible.”’ ‘“ Adolphus,” retorted the countess, ‘this is playing the part of unheard-of villainy, to impute your crime to me.”’ “Good God!”’ murmured the Earl of Lascelles, stagger- ing back as he pressed his hand to his brow, ‘do I hear aright? Or am I dreaming? ”’ ‘ Adolphus,” said Ethel, ‘‘ of what use is this shocking hypocrisy on your part? Methought when you first entered the room that your looks would quail in my presence —”’’ “ Woman, this is intolerable,” interrupted Adolphus, fiercely grasping Ethel’s arm. ‘ It was I who thought that you would not dare look me in the face.’’ CONnNIEDOOKS (C(O)