The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

oo2 REYNOLDS’ WORKS last three weeks I met her whom I have been compelled to regard and to speak of as my wife.” ‘“ Ah, then you know that she is alive, and you have seen her? ’’ exclaimed Constance, in accents expressive of dis- appointment and sorrow. ‘Yes, I have seen her, and when I tel! you the result of our meeting you may not perhaps look thus distressed. I will not pause to explain under what circumstances it was that I met her. Suffice it to say that we did thus meet three weeks ago, and our recognition was immediate and mutual. It was in the environs of London that I thus encountered her. She was elegantly dressed, and had the appearance of being in the most comfortable circumstances. It was rather in a tone of raillery and a kind of good-humoured jocularity that she spoke. I asked her if she had ever borne my name in the presence of the world, and she assured me she had not. I next asked her if she considered she had any claim upon me as a husband, to which she likewise answered in the negative. ‘ Now, understand me,’ she said, ‘ I do not wish to interfere with you, and I presume that you do not intend to interfere with me. The necessity which compelled me to marry you was of a transient character; the purpose was served on the instant, and if we could now unmarry ourselves I should be fuli willing.’ These words sent a thrill of joy to my heart. She observed my emotion, and went on to say, ‘ Although we are such strangers to each other, and although I consequently know so little of you, yet you may rest assured that what trifling amount of feeling I do experience in the matter is rather of a friendly character than otherwise, and I think by your manner there is some- thing you would wish at my hands. If so, speak, and hesi- tate not. Do you want money? ’ | “T at once interrupted her with the assurance that I entertained no such mean and mercenary idea, and I then very frankly proceeded to inform her that I was enamoured of a young lady with whose love I was blessed in return, that I had not dared reveal to her the circumstance of my wedded condition, but that if it were possible to procure and destroy the evidences of that marriage the boon con- ferred upon me would be immense. Hereupon my wite at once promised to relieve my mind in this respect. She told me that she was in possession of the marriage certificate, ; CONNIE OO KS (E(@) m