The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

336 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a the lips being of a rich redness and always of a delicious moisture; they were lips that seemed to invite kisses, and appeared fully capable of giving them back again with additional sweets. The expression of her countenance, though naturally a mixture of good-humour, archness, and roguishness, was variable, because, as we have already stated, she had the faculty of tutoring it to assume any look that suited the circumstances of the moment. Although so remarkably handsome, and therefore ex- posed to many temptations, especially on the part of the profligate Lord Saxondale, and though by no means of a cold temperament, but, on the contrary, with the rich warm blood of youth glowing in her veins, Miss Mary Anne was notwithstanding unquestionably virtuous. She could flirt with handsome valets and the upper class of male domestics she could even smile mischievously and display her fine white teeth when any aristocratic young exquisite, visiting at the mansion, paid her a passing compliment if they chanced to meet upon the stairs, but 11 any improper over- tures were made to Miss Mary Anne she knew how to resent them in a manner that would most likely silence for ever him who insulted her with such proposals. We do not know that it can be exactly said she was virtuous from principle; indeed, it would be wrong to make any such assertion. But she was a saving and prudent young woman in money- matters, had thoroughly respectable notions with regard to her character, and looked forward to a good marriage with some deserving and eligible person in her own sphere of life. Thus, though Mary Anne could smile roguishly, assist in a love-intrigue carried on by others, and deliver a billet-doux with all the slyness and discretion imaginable, and though on occasions she could not merely flirt but even romp with the domestics in the servants’ hall, on a Christmas or New Year’s eve, yet there was a line at which she stopped short, and beyond which it would be very difficult to induce her to take a false step. Such was the lady’s-maid who possessed the confidence of her two young mistresses generally, but of Constance especially, and she had proved herself a most efficient auxiliary in enabling this latter lady to carry on her secret interviews with the Marquis of Villebelle. She was therefore now on the alert to watch for the return of Lady Saxondale, CONNIE NCO KS (E(0)