The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

WOLVES THROWING OFF DISGUISE 29 from her lips. But almost immediately after Ernestina had flitted away so abruptly, and while that rending scream was still vibrating through the suite of rooms, the Marquis of Leveson stood before his intended victim. He had entered by that same door through which his niece had fled; and closing it behind him, he at once said, in a low but earnest tone, ‘“ Louisa, your cries are unavailing; no mortal ear do they reach beyond the four walls of this room, and therefore I need scarcely observe that you are in my “power.”’ “My lord, my lord,” faltered the maiden, in a dying tone, while her brain grew dizzy and a film came over her eyes, “take pity upon the friendless orphan who never injured you.” | “Oh, Louisa! ’’ exclaimed the marquis, fixing upon her those satyr eyes that were burning with desire, ‘‘ to ask mercy for yourself is to tell me to make an impossible sacri- fice. Listen to me, dear girl, do not despair, do not give way to grief, do not look thus wildly, thus vaguely upon me. You know that I bear one of the loftiest and proudest titles in England, that my riches are immense; you have seen enough of this mansion here to know that it is spacious and magnificent, and I may add that in the loveliest spots of England there are country-seats, perfect paradises in them- selves, of which I am also the possessor. Of this lofty title, then, will I make thee the sharer, of this wealth will I make thee the mistress; my mansions, my domains, my rural vilas, all shall be thine, Louisa, if thou wilt give me thy love.”’ Our heroine heard the tones of the nobleman’s voice, but comprehended not what he said. There was a hurry in her brain that made her thoughts a whirlwind and threw her senses into confusion. All she knew was that some tremen- dous danger menaced her, and that she was sinking beneath the weight of an ineffable consternation. The marquis saw that she was thus overwhelmed, that her head was drooping, and that her senses were slowly aban- doning her; and he thought within himself, ‘I will not excite nor arouse her, I will let her sink into insensibility, and then — ”’ The instant Lady Ernestina Dysart had performed her treacherous part toward poor Louisa Stanley, she disap- CONNICLOO© <S (C(O)