The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

FLORINA 363 open, and voices issuing from within reached Florina’s ears. One of those voices was Deveril’s, the other was that of a female, and the very first sounds which the young lady caught struck her as laden with accents of tenderness and endearment. A sickening sensation seized upon her; the demon of jealousy again raised its voice in the depths of hersoul. She felt as if she were standing on the threshold of a revelation that was to bring a blight upon her heart. Transfixed to the spot she stood, unable to lit her hand to touch the bell or the knocker of the door, unable also to advance a step to pass that open portal, unable likewise to make known her presence in any shape or way. She was thus deprived of the power either to advance or retreat. Instinctively did she listen; she could not help it, no matter what amount of im- propriety characterized her conduct, no matter how indis- creet a part she was playing. Of all this she thought not; it struck her not that she was doing wrong, — indeed, she was incapable of serious or deliberate reflection of any kind. Those sounds of voices which she had caught had struck her, we said, as being laden with an unmistakable tenderness, but the words themselves had not reached her ears. Now she listened with suspended breath to catch what was being said, as if her whole life’s happiness or misery depended upon the result. ‘ But, my dearest William,’ murmured the female voice which she had already heard, and whose tones were of silvery softness, “you must tell me what has occurred, for you know how sincerely I love you.”’ ‘Wherefore,’ — and it was now the voice of Deveril that was speaking — “‘ wherefore will you thus insist that I am dull and melancholy? ” ‘‘ Oh, because, my beloved William — ”’ and the remainder of the sentence was breathed in so low a tone that the sense of the words was lost to the listening Florina. ‘“ My sweet girl, do not shed tears on my account,”’ said Deveril, in the most soothing and endearing accents. ‘‘ Come I must not see you mournful and melancholy like this. While we have been sitting in conversation here the darkness has gathered around us, the twilight has gone, dusk has succeeded. Shall we ring for lights, or ramble in the garden for half an hour? ”’ ) CONNIE DOOkKS (C(O)