The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

112 REYNOLDS’ WORKS great a godsend as from the poverty of the place one might have supposed it to be. “That pretty little villa which you see yonder, about three-quarters of a mile across the fields, who lives there? ”’ asked Saxondale. ‘“T do not know her name. It is a young lady.” “Very beautiful, is she not? ”’ “Very. Ihave seen her once or twice, and she struck me as being very beautiful.’’ “ But do you net know who or what she is?” asked Edmund. “No; I have never had the curiosity to make any in- quiries,’’ replied the woman. | “Have you not lived long here? Or perhaps I should rather ask whether she has not lived long at that villa? ”’ “JT can answer both questions. In the first place, I have lived here for many years; and, in the second place, the young lady at Evergreen Villa has only lived there a few weeks, perhaps not more than a month.” “Ah! then it is not surprising you should know nothing about her,’ observed Edmund. “I think I will go and make inquiries elsewhere,’ and he rose from his seat as he spoke. ’ “Stop,” said the woman, “‘ you may not be more fortunate in learning elsewhere the particulars you have sought here; but if you like, and are not in a very great hurry for a day or so, I will ascertain everything you want to know. And besides,’’ she added, with another meaning look, “ perhaps I may assist you in the design you have in contemplation.” ‘“ What design? ’’ demanded Saxondale, sharply, afraid of trusting the woman too far or suffering her to penetrate his views too deeply. “ You must not think I am a fool,” she replied, a momen- tary expression of contempt flitting over her harsh features. “ For what earthly reason can a young gentleman like you come making inquiries about a beautiful girl, unless it is that you have an ulterior object in view? In the same way that I saw it was only pretence that made you say you were tired when you knocked at my door, so can I read the motive of your questions relative to the girl at Hvergreen Villa,” “ Well, at all events, there is a bluntness and frankness about you that I like,” observed Edmund, who began te Gomichbooks mn