The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 338: what you’re looking at

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

THE LADY AND THE PAGE 321 if those were not likenesses of the same kings that were depicted in the book. But before she gave me any answer the door opened, and that lady whom I had seen at the mansion in the country made her appearance. She shook hands with Mrs. Burnaby, and, catching me up in her arms, covered me with kisses. She was beautifully dressed, and looked much better than when I had seen her lying in bed. Then she was sick and ill, and very pale, now she had a fine colour on her cheeks. I recollect perfectly well asking her whether she was my mamma. But instead of answering me, she pressed me again to her bosom, and her tears moist- ened my cheeks. On this occasion I was not more than half an hour with her, and as Mrs. Burnaby took me again away, we met in the passage that same gentleman whom I had previously seen and who had the star on his breast.”’ ‘‘ All this is very singular, my dear Frank,’’ said Juliana, who listened with a deepening interest to the youth’s recital. ‘“ Proceed: I am dying to hear the rest.”’ ‘“ About ten months after the incident I have just related,”’ resumed the young page, “‘ poor Mrs. Burnaby met with a severe accident through a fall, and after a short illness she died. I wept very much, for I loved her dearly, but the servant-woman told me that Mrs. Burnaby was not my erandmamma at all, and indeed no relation. I remember that the young woman looked very sly and knowing as she told me this, and bade me not mention what she had said to anybody who might come to the cottage to superintend the funeral. I thought it very strange, and put some ques- tions to the servant which were naturally suggested even to my young and inexperienced mind, but she would tell me nothing more, or perhaps she knew no more to tell. The day after Mrs. Burnaby’s death that gentleman whom I had seen with a star upon his breast came to the cottage; and the first thing he did was to open the deceased lady’s desk, take out all her papers, and examine them. Some he burned, others he put in his pocket, for I was in the room the whole time. I stayed in the house till after the funeral, which I remember was very plainly and privately conducted, and then the gentleman of whom I have spoken came and took me away with him in a carriage. “ We proceeded straight to that same mansion in the country where I had seen the lady for the first time, and CONnNIEOOOKS (C©)