The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

THE SIREN’S WILES 31) Agatha. ‘“‘ For, to speak candidly, although I feel not so truly wretched now as I did a few hours back when this . storm of dangers exploded above our heads, yet still my heart is filled with misgivings.”’ “And naturally so,” said Julia. “ This appointment with Loftus at Maravelli’s house, where the dead child les —”’ “Oh, do not talk of it,” interrupted Agatha, a strong tremor shooting through her entire form as she and her sister paced rapidly along the margin of the lake, on whose sleeping waters the slanting sunbeams still poured the © mellowed glow of their effulgence. Then there was a long silence, which remained unbroken until the sisters came within a few yards of the jetty, when, raising their eyes from the ground on which they had been bent in meditative mood, they suddenly observed a gentle- man seated on a beam which had become detached from the mass of piles and intricacy of woodwork forming the huge pier. At the very same moment that Agatha and Julia observed this gentleman, another gentleman appeared around the piles forming the commencement of the Jetty, and as these two gentlemen thus met, evidently unexpectedly, ejaculations of surprise burst from their lips. “Ah! my lord?” exclaimed the one who had just made his appearance upon the scene. ‘What! you here again, Colonel Malpas?’ cried the other, sternly, as he sprang up from his seat on the beam. But simultaneously did a cry of amazement fall from the lips of Julia as she at once recognized the Earl of Curzon in this latter individual. “Ah!” eried the nobleman, whose attention was now all in a moment attracted to Julia, “is it indeed you, my charmer, my beauty? ”’ “Then the other must be Emma,’ exclaimed Malpas, also springing forward along with the earl toward the ladies; but on catching sight of Agatha’s countenance he stopped short, in sudden disappointment, stammering, “ No — it is not — I beg a thousand pardons.’’ “This is my elder sister, Miss Owen,” said Julia, at once assuming a dignified and even haughty look. ‘“ Agatha,” she continued, turning to her sister, ‘‘ this is the Earl of Curzon, of whom I have spoken to you on former occasions.’’ “ And you have already learned,’’ said the colonel, again CORNICLOOL! ‘S (C(O) Mm