The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

310 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “But have your fears been realized?” interrupted Juliana. “‘ On the contrary, have I not assisted you in those meetings? Have I not even kept watch when the marquis, stealthily entering the garden, has encountered you there? Was it not I who enlisted our maid Mary Anne in your interest, and induced her to become the bearer of your notes? ”’ “Yes, all this is true, dearest Juliana, and I was wrong ever to entertain the slightest misgiving in respect to your kindness. But now tell me,” continued Constance, ‘‘ who is the object of this love which your heart cherishes? For that you do love, your lips have admitted, yes, and your looks have confirmed the avowal.’’ “No, no, Constance, I cannot tell you,’ murmured Juliana. “I am fearful that you will ridicule — you will despise me.”’ ‘““Tmpossible, dearest sister,” said Constance. ‘ For all the reasons that you yourself have just given when enumerat- ing the services you have rendered me, am I bound not merely to pay your feelings as much respect as I claim for my own, but likewise to give you such succour as may lie in my power?” ‘But in this case there are no such aids requisite,” re- sponded Juliana, evidently approaching with reluctance the full revelation of her secret, and therefore gradually preparing her sister for the final avowal by means of hints and allusions. ‘“‘In my case, Constance, there need be no interchange of letters, no clandestine meetings in the garden, no scaling of the walls, no posting some one to keep watch, no entrusting the secret to a maid — ”’ “T cannot understand you,’’ observed Constance, gazing upon her sister with surprise and bewilderment. “ If all these accessories and aids are not required, it must be because the object of your love would not be distasteful to our mother, our relatives, and our friends.”’ “Here again you are wrong, Constance,” interrupted Juliana. ‘ Listen. When our mother first perceived, a few months ago, that the Marquis of Villebelle began to pay you some attention and that you appeared pleased with his courtesies and his assiduities, she purposely insulted him, though in her own dignified and coldly serene manner, and this was done deliberately in order to convince him ] CONNIE OO KS m