The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

330 REYNOLDS’ WORKS moment two ladies, whose ages might respectively have been thirty-two and thirty (but they were not sisters, at least to judge from their looks), entered the antechamber on their way to the state apartments. Ah, those faces! I recollected them in a moment. They were the same I had seen by the couch of the lady at the country mansion, the same I had subsequently seen, also, at that mansion, on the last occasion of my being conducted thither. For observe, Miss Farefield, — Juliana, I mean, dear Juliana, — observe, I say, that my memory has not only been vividly keen and scrupulously faithful relative to all incidents associated with the mysteries of my earlier years, but will remain immortal in that respect. Be not surprised, therefore, if I at once knew those ladies. Though years had passed over their heads, yet in their passage they had merely developed and perhaps heightened, but by no means marred and little changed, the mingled sweetness and glory of their charms. “Obedient to that same impulse which had urged me to address Lord Petersfield, I sprang forward and threw myself pointedly, but not rudely, in their way. ‘ What is it?’ they both asked in a breath, and at that moment I can well believe they recollected me not. ‘Iam Francis Paton,’ I said, and then I exclaimed, ‘Oh, you recognize me! you know me now,’ for I saw that they both started and then exchanged looks of mingled uneasiness and surprise. But instantaneously recovering themselves, and as Hf in pursuance of the same tacitly understood resolve how to act, they said, coldly, ‘There is some mistake,’ and passed on. I fell back con- founded, and sank overpowered on a seat. Then I burst into tears, for the conviction struck to my soul that all those who could tell me anything of my mother were inspired by the terrible determination to ignore my claims upon their sym- pathy and their confidence. The approach of fresh arrivals recalled me to myself; I dashed away the tears from my eyes, and, rising from the seat, resumed my post at the door of the antechamber. ‘Then, as I regained my composure, — or at least was able to collect my ideas, — I resolved to watch those two ladies when they came forth again, ascertain who they were, and thus endeavour by making inquiries concern- ing them, to follow up the clue, if any were thus afforded, in the hope of reaching the desired aim and discovering who that lady was that had left her image so indelibly impressed CONNIE DOO KS (E(0)