The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

194 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a ready invention on her part, and which Rosa had at once comprehended, for the purpose of obtaining this opportunity of ascending to her chamber in company with the servant. “Oh, my dear, dear mistress! ’’ exclaimed Rosa, affecting a voice of lamentation and distress, ‘“‘ what trouble you have got yourself into! How did all this happen? What does it mean? Well, well, poor dear lady, I won’t worry you. I dare say you will tell me all about it another time. But, O dear me, what a wound! Why, you must have cut yourself with a sharp flintstone or something. You would certainly have bled to death if you had gone without having the wound dressed. And the boot, too, almost filled with blood, the stocking dripping wet! Dear me, dear me!” In this strain did Rosa go on talking, at the same time treading about the room and making a clatter with the things, just as if she were in the excitement of a tremendous bustle to get all that was necessary under the circumstances. But in the meanwhile what was Lady Bess herself doing? The instant she had wiven those hurried and softly whis- pered instructions to Rosa, she delayed not in carrying into execution the plan which had suggested itself to her while she was arriving thither in the carriage. She looked at her watch; it wanted exactly twenty-five minutes to two o’clock. No time to lose. Taking a very small scrap of paper, she wrote thereon the following lines: ‘“’ Deletzyd, szcedpd. “ Ozgpc, Oz dzxpestyr ez aczgp *hld le jzfce szidp estp trse. “ Ehpyej xtyfepd ez ehz.”’ Having folded up this little scrap of paper into the small- est possible compass, she tied a small piece of silken thread around it, which being done, she hastily whispered to Rosa, “Make some good rattling noise while I open the window.” Rosa, instantaneously obeying this order, commenced no inconsiderable din with the basin and jug and other things on the washing-stand, during which clatter Lady Bess opened the casement, the noise thereof being drowned in the din of the crockeryware. She now reached forth her hand, and took in a large wicker bird-cage which hung just outside the window. ‘This cage contained two beautiful doves CONNIE NO KS (E(0)