The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

298 REYNOLDS’ WORKS and began conversing in a way which I considered to be somewhat familiar. I showed a little impatience at this, when he suddenly entered upon the most extravagant declarations. I scarcely know how he began them, but I recollect that I was so taken with astonishment that I allowed him to proceed uninterruptedly for some time. To be brief, he flung himself at my feet, gave utterance to a thousand ridiculous things borrowed from the rhapsodies which lovers are made to utter in novels and romances, besought me to have pity on him, and vowed if I did not, he should kill himself in despair.” “Ts this possible? ’’ asked Juliana, eying her mother with something like doubt and suspicion in her looks. “Good heavens, what insolence!’”’ cried the younger daughter, who on the other hand implicitly believed every word her ladyship uttered. ‘““ Insolence indeed! ’’ echoed Lady Saxondale, not appear- ing to observe the manner in which Juliana surveyed her, ‘and yet I can scarcely call it insolence, because it was such pure unmitigated folly. However, I sent him away from my presence, and ordered him never to come to the house again.’ wilwam surprised at Mr. Deveril,’’ said Constance. ‘I always thought he was an unassuming, well-behaved, and discreet young man, — a very superior young man indeed, quite a gentleman — ‘And utterly ee of such egregious folly,” added Juliana. ‘‘ At least,’’ she immediately said, observing that Lady Saxondale fixed her eyes sternly upon her, “he is the last man in existence that I should have thought likely to commit himself so absurdly. The only excuse to be found for him is that it was a transient touch of insanity.” “Perhaps so,’ observed Lady Saxondale. She then continued to discourse upon the subject with her two daughters a little longer, after which she retired to her own chamber to dress for dinner. But she had now a new cause for spite and vexation, she having seen full well that she was not believed by her eldest daughter. ‘Well, Constance,” said this young lady to her sister, the moment they were alone together, ‘‘ what think you olf the tale that has just been told us? ”’ “That Mr. Deveril’s conduct was most extraordinary,” CONNIE OO KS (E(0)