The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

210 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Bess was hurried up-stairs by Kate Marshall and her sisters to a bedchamber, and there the three young women embraced her in the enthusiasm of admiration for the feat which she had performed. ‘They then assisted to disapparel her of her male garments, and Lady Bess was by no means sorry to stretch her stiff and wearied limbs in the comfortable couch. Kate sat down by the bedside, and explained to her the stratagem which her father had adopted the moment the carrier-bird brought the despatch upwards of four hours previously. One of her sisters hastened down-stairs to pro- cure breakfast for the intrepid traveller, while the other sister bustled about to put the masculine garments out of the way, and substitute for them a female garb which Kate’s wardrobe furnished; and as the elder Miss Marshall was nearly as possible of the same height and figure as Lady Bess, there was no fear of the raiment proving unsuitable. The bottle of medicine which had been procured from Mr. Hood’s assistant was emptied, and then conspicuously placed on the table near the bed, just as if its con- tents had been duly imbibed by her whose name ap- peared on the label. Breakfast was speedily brought up, and Lady Bess did most ample justice to it. By the time she had finished her meal and the things were cleared away, it was eight o’clock, and in order to render the stratagem in respect to the sur- geon as complete as possible, old Marshall stepped down the street to fetch him. In a few minutes Mr. Hood was duly escorted by Mrs. Marshall into the pretended invalid’s chamber. The surgeon was a middle-aged man, of rather a benevolent countenance, and of pleasing address. He had been long established in Dover and was much respected. If he had a fault, it was in a certain sneaking affection which he cherished for money, and therefore when he observed a well-filled purse lying upon the table close by his empty bottle, he could not help feeling pleased at having a patient evidently so well able to remun- erate him for his services. Lady Bess put on the most lugubrious look it was possible for her handsome and healthy countenance to assume; and if the doctor had only seen her playing so fine a part with the breakfast, a quarter of an hour previous, he would assuredly have fancied that a lady possessed of CONNIE OO KS (E(0)