The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

200 REYNOLDS’ WORKS with folded it up again, she replaced it under the bird’s wing. ‘This being done, she gave the feathered messenger some peculiar kind of food which she always had in readiness in the room, and the little carrier being thus refreshed was put forth through the trap-door again. It immediately took wing and sped away on its important errand. “Twenty minutes to two when the bird was sent off,” muttered Rebecca to herself. Then, as she took an old silver watch from under her pillow and saw that it was now about ten minutes past two, she observed, ‘‘ There’s plenty of time.”’ She then put on some clothing, and descending the stairs, proceeded to the little room where her father slept. “ Well, what is it? ’”’ exclaimed Israel Patch, as he started up in his couch. ‘“ A message,’ responded his daughter. ‘‘ Lady Bess has sent it. You must have a horse in readiness. The despatch is dated twenty minutes to two, and it is now nearly a quarter past.”’ | ‘What a time the bird has been in coming! ”’ ejaculated Patch. “No such thing,’ rejoined his daughter. ‘“‘ The dove was here in twenty minutes after 1t was sent on the wing, and that is doing more than a mile a minute, taking the distance from Lady Bess’s to this place. It is me that have delayed somewhat in coming down, as I saw that there was no hurry. Besides, I had to feed the bird, hadn’t I? ”’ “Well, you can go up to bed again. I will dress myself, get the horse in readiness, and wait.’’ Rebecca Patch left her father the candle which she had brought with her, and then remounting the stairs, gained her attic and lay down to rest once more. Rapid as the flight of that pigeon which bore the mysteri- ous billet beneath its wing must we transport the reader to another public-house much farther along the same road. Indeed, this latter was about four miles on the London side of Canterbury. It was situated on the summit of Boughton Hill, at no great distance from a village, but completely isolated therefrom. The sign raised upon the top of a tall post was daubed with such an effigy of a Red Dragon as the painter’s imagination had suggested. The house was oi sombre and dilapidated appearance, with so suspicious 4& CONNIE OO KS (E(0)