The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE BILLS OF EXCHANGE 29 hall, enveloped in the handsome cloak and with her thick veil drawn over her countenance, just as he had seen her when entering the carriage at half-past seven o’clock. “Heyday! what does this mean? ”’ he exclaimed, petulantly, as she swept abruptly past him, flitted up-stairs, and dis- appeared from his view all in a moment. With another cause for ill-humour, he was returning to the parlour when the sounds of light footsteps and the rustling of garments met his ears; and looking around, he caught a glimpse of the cloak of the pretty lady’s-maid, as the wearer was also hastening up the marble staircase. The earl hurried after her and overtook her on the landing. ‘ Gertrude,” he said, catching her by the arm and speaking in a low, rapid whisper, ‘“‘ for Heaven’s sake, do not mention to your mistress what occurred just now; ”’ and as he uttered these words, he strove with piercing looks to penetrate the thick veil which was also worn by her whom he thus ad- dressed. But breaking abruptly away from him, and without a syllable of reply, she bounded up the next flight of stairs. ‘“ Perdition seize the women! ”’ muttered the earl to him- self, as he slowly retraced his steps to the dining-room. ‘“What the devil possesses them both? My wife sweeps past me in the hall as if I had the plague, and Gertrude breaks away from me on the landing as if contact with me were contagion. Then this mania of wearing their veils up to their very bedrooms, as if they dared not look a man in the face! ” And the earl walked to and fro in the parlour with uneven steps and agitated feelings. He waited ten minutes in the hope that his wife nwgald come down previously to retiring for the night; but as she did not make her appearance, he resolved to go up to her boudoir and either induce her to join him at.the supper-table, or else remain and converse with her in her own room. But as he was ascending the stairs he met Gertrude face to face. The beautiful girl had laid aside her bonnet, veil, and cloak, and she could not help encountering the earl’s looks. A smile of ineffable archness and mischievous meaning ap- peared upon her pouting lips as she thus met his gaze; but she was hurrying past him when he once more caught her by the arm and held her firmly. GORIGDoo <S (SO)