The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

286 REYNOLDS’ WORKS All on a sudden Lady Saxondale’s whole being appeared to change; the crimson hue of excitement vanished from her cheeks, leaving them pale as marble, the sensuous light which had been beaming in her eyes flamed up into flashing fires, the supplicating attitude of her splendid figure was — succeeded by an air of Juno-like wrath as she drew herself up to the full of her commanding height, and in a voice choked with rage, she said, “ Ah, then you scorn my love, you spurn me, you have dared to humiliate Lady Saxon- dale? ”’ “Madam,” replied Deveril, “ if I remain here even during the few brief moments which are occupied by what I am now saying, it 1s only because I would not wish you to imagine that I shall go hence from your abode to give pub- licity to a scene as unexpected as it was painful. Your ladyship speaks of being humiliated, but if you feel so, it need only be so long as I am in your presence. No, I will not make a vaunt of the proposals which in a mood of deplorable weakness you have ventured to make to me. Let the veil of oblivion be dropped over what has passed. And now I bid your ladyship farewell.”’ ‘Stop, one moment stop!’’ said Lady Saxondale, in the deep, hoarse voice of concentrated passion, and she clutched Deveril violently by the arm. ‘‘ You must not leave me thus. I feel like a desperate woman, capable of desperate deeds. You, sir, are the only man I ever loved, and to have this first love of mine thus rejected, thus spurned — no, by Heaven, it shall not be!’’ and in the madness of her rage she stamped her foot violently on the carpet. Deveril, shocked and horrified at what was taking place, burst from the strong grasp in which Lady Saxondale held him, and was hastening to the door, when she bounded after him, and caught him by the arm again, crying, “‘ Stop, I command you to stop! Beware how you irritate me. I am not mistress of my actions, and if yeu attempt to escape from me again, ere I have said all that I have to say, there will be a struggle, and you know it will be playing a coward’s part to do violence to a woman.’’ “Lady Saxondale,” said the young artist, painfully excited and scarcely knowing how to act, ‘‘ I will remain a few minutes and listen to what you have to say, if you will only tranquillize your feelings, for I really do not wish that CONNIE OO KS (E(0)