The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

A NIGHT AT OAKLANDS DIO mont, but in a voice so deep and hollow that as it smote upon the ears of Purvis it sent forth dismay to the innermost recesses of his soul. “A dream, my lord,” he said; ‘‘ what dream could have possibly produced this astounding effect? Perhaps, after all, it was the result —’’ “Yes, it must have been,’ rejoined Marchmont, but evidently with the air of one who sought to force upon him- self a belief that was in antagonism with his own deeply settled conviction. | Purvis continued to regard his ducal master, whose countenance still denoted the unutterable horror and con- sternation which he had been experiencing. His eyes sank beneath the looks of the old steward; a profound sigh, or perhaps more correctly speaking, a low, long moan expressive of deepest inward agony issued from his lips. ‘ But what was this dream, my lord?” asked Purvis. The duke did not immediately answer; he was evidently uncertain whether to give an explanation or not, until at length yielding to some irresistible impulse, he said, ‘‘ Listen, and I will tell you.”’ “Shall 1 procure your Grace some wine? Or will your lordship take a glass of water?’ inquired the old steward, for Marchmont appeared as if he were about to suffocate. “JT will help myself,” was his response, and rising from his seat, he moved to where there was a decanter of water. Filing a tumbler with hands which trembled so that the decanter and the glass jarred against each other, he raised the refreshing beverage to his lips, and it 1s scarcely a figure of speech to say that the water went hissing down his parched throat as if it were pouring over hot iron. Then he resumed the chair whence he had risen, but Purvis noticed that his countenance was almost as ghastly pale, though perhaps less convulsed than at first. “Sleep was stealing upon me,” he thus commenced his explanation in the same low deep voice as before, “‘ when | felt as if gradually awakening for some reason that I could not comprehend. I cannot remember now, — indeed I knew not at the time whether it was a sound in the room, or whether a hand touched me, or whether a voice addressed me, but certain it is that I was thus unaccountably awakened from my slumber— And yet,” ejaculated the duke, sud- COnnicooolks (C(O)