The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

THE OLD MAN’S SECOND MARRIAGE 9 familiar. The intelligence of this marriage, when it reached Ralph Farefield for the first time through the newspapers, did not produce the overwhelming effect which his vindictive uncle gloatingly anticipated, for the graceless nephew thought it most unlikely indeed that any issue would result from so unequal an alliance. He therefore continued his career of dissipation, raising money by whatsoever means he could, and flattering himself that he was displaying a proper spirit by doggedly abstaining from making any advances toward a reconciliation with his uncle. But at the expiration of a twelvemonth Ralph began to grow alarmed, when he learned that Lady Saxondale had presented her husband with a daughter. Still he consoled himself that it was not a son, and that he was still heir presumptive to the title and estates of Saxondale. Nevertheless, to drown the misgivings which would at times intrude upon his soul, he plunged more deeply, if possible, into dissipation than ever; and finding it growing more and more difficult to procure funds for his ex- travagance, he saw his aristocratic companions proportion- ately falling off. At the expiration of a couple more years the newspapers informed him that Lady Saxondale had become a mother a second time, but also of a daughter; and though Ralph’s uneasiness now increased materially, ~ he continued to solace himself as well as he was able with the fact that he was still heir to the broad lands and lordly title of Saxondale. But now Ralph Farefield found it no longer possible to raise money with the usurers on any terms, and he was involved in the most serious embarrassments. All his friends deserted him; but not being able to exist without the companionship of the profligate and the dissolute, he was compelled to seek the society of a lower grade of de- bauchees than those with whom he had been wont to asso- ciate. Thus was he rapidly sinking down in the social scale, and being reduced to positive want, he at length penned a letter of contrition to his uncle. But Lord Saxondale, who since his marriage had resided altogether with his young wife in Lincolnshire, had not lost sight of his nephew even from that distance; or, more properly speaking, he received from his solicitors in London, and from other sources, frequent accounts of the young man’s proceedings. These accounts had only tended to confirm him in the loathing and } GOomiGaooks (CO)