The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

308 REYNOLDS’ WORKS expanded into womanhood, the Honourable Miss Farefield was still unmarried. But did she love? Was there an image constantly uppermost in her heart, and upon which she dwelt day and night? ~The reader has already received more than one hint to that effect, and in this chapter he will hear still further upon the subject. But first let us say a word or two with regard to Constance. She was altogether of a different style of beauty from her sister, save in respect to the well-developed proportions of her figure; but she had light hair, a very fair complexion, and soft blue eyes, while Juliana’s hair was of raven darkness, her eves were black and brilliant, and her complexion was of a clear, delicate olive. Juliana possessed sentiments more refined and feelings more ethereal than her sister. The same strong passions did not agitate in her soul, and the love of which she was susceptible may be described as of a far purer and chaster kind than that which could alone occupy the heart of the elder young lady. While their mother was paying her visit to Lady Mac- donald, Juliana and Constance, each dressed in an elegant negligee, were seated together, as already described, in the apartment where their mornings were generally passed, for although it was now really the afternoon so far as the proper divisions of time went, yet it is always morning in the fash- ionable world until the dinner-hour, even though this should be as late as six or seven o’clock. The two sisters had been conversing on the incident of the previous day, namely, the story which their mother had told them relative to William Deveril, and by a not unnatural transition they were led on to topics of a more tender, intimate, and secret character. “T know that you have something in your mind, dear Juliana,’’ said Constance, pursuing the strain into which the discourse had gradually glided, “ and though I have noticed it for some few months past, and have often been going to question you on the subject, yet I did not like to do so.”’ ‘And why not?” asked Juliana, the rich blood mantling upon her cheeks. ‘‘ Do you think that I should have re- fused you my confidence? No, I should have been pleased if you had sought it. But it involves a secret which I could not bring myself to confess of my own accord. It 1s GOMIicdoOoks (E(0)