The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

282 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“T am at a loss to understand your ladyship,”’ stammered Deveril, scarcely knowing what he said. “No, no, you comprehend me, you understand me full well,” rejoined Lady Saxondale, vehemently. “It is impossible you can be under any misapprehension on the subject to which I am alluding. But wherefore do you gaze upon me in this wild and frightened manner? Is it that I have touched the true chord in your heart? ” Lady Saxondale stopped suddenly short, and fixed her eyes with even a deeper earnestness of gaze than before upon William Deveril as she perceived that the colour came and went rapidly on the delicate duskiness of his handsome countenance, for this last remark of her ladyship had con- firmed his suspicion that she was indeed alluding to his love for Lady Florina. “ Does your ladyship intend to overwhelm me with — with —”’ Hewas about to say “ reproaches,’’ but the natural manliness of his spirit instantaneously reviving, he regained his self-possession, and in a calmer and firmer tone observed, ‘Whatever your ladyship’s object may be, I pray you to be explicit.” “Ts it possible that you are so blind? ’’ exclaimed Lady Saxondale, impatiently. Then, in softer accents and with milder manner, she immediately added, “‘ Mr. Deveril, it is not your fault if you have become the object of so much deep and impassioned love. Start not, but listen to me. Though destiny has cast you in a humble sphere, yet may I say without flattery, that you are one of nature’s true aristocracy. Handsome in person, yes, handsome even to the winning of a heart that never loved before, endowed, too, with all the richest treasures of a fine intellect, possessing elegant manners, and a voice that falls like music on the ear and sinks down with ecstatic feeling to the depths of the soul, it is not indeed surprising that you should have thus become the object of a passion which could no longer be concealed. Yes, you are the object of that passion, and it has been long cherished, although never avowed until this day.” William Deveril listened in a sort of stupor of amazement. Every word that Lady Saxondale uttered seemed to allude more and more forcibly to the affection which he entertained for Florina Staunton, but which had never been made known CONNIE ICO KS (E(0)