The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVI THE FABRICATION Noruine could exceed the rage and disappointment of Lady Saxondale at the rebuff she had experienced from William Deveril. We must inform the reader that from the very first moment he commenced giving lessons to the Misses Farefield, at Saxondale House, several. months back, her ladyship had conceived a strange and irresistible attach- ment toward that handsome young man. At the begin- ning Lady Saxondale had endeavoured to put away this feeling, with as much calm confidence that she would succeed in doing so as if she were divesting herself of a garment which, though fitting somewhat tight, she had no doubt of being able to lay aside; but insensibly that attachment grew upon her, and though she was long ere she would admit this circumstance to herself, yet she could not help at last opening her eyes deliberately to the fact that she really loved William Deveril. It was perfectly true that Lady Saxondale struggled long and painfully against this growing passion; true also that it acquired a power greater than her own faculty of resist- ance. We may likewise observe that she had spoken with equal truth when informing Deveril that she had never loved before. The reader is well aware that she had not married old Lord Saxondale for love, and that though she had been true and faithful to him, had treated him with kindness, and had therefore made him a good wife, she had never experienced for him any sentiment beyond those of friendship and gratitude. At his death, though left a young, beautiful, and rich widow, she had never thought of changing her condition, simply because out of the many offers which she received, not one was made by any individual of a 203 GomiilGosdooks (FO)