The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

THE HEIR 31 child, and the infant Lord Saxondale is at the present moment beneath this roof.’”? Then, with so peculiar a look that it struck dismay to Ralph’s heart, she turned around and slowly quitted the room. He immediately followed her, horrible feelings raging in his soul. His thoughts had in a moment been plunged into a frenzied whirl; there seemed to be madness in his brain. Had he been deceived by Chiffin, or was Lady Saxon- dale deceiving him? Had not the child been made away with, or, if it had, was her ladyship trying to palm off a supposi-: titious one upon the world as her own? But he would soon know. Ah, perhaps she did not think that he was aware of that mark upon the shoulder, the presence of which could alone prove the identity, and the absence of which would at once stamp the fraud. He overtook her as she was proceeding to the nearest drawing-room. “Your ladyship says that the child is found?” he mut- tered, between his set teeth; and though he endeavoured to master his emotions and appear collected and cool, yet he could not. ‘““T said so, and it is the truth,’”’ replied Lady Saxondale, calmly and gravely, as she had previously addressed him in the death-chamber. ‘““ We shall see,’ he said, and the words came hissing from his lips as if from those of a serpent; for his feelings were terrible, —all the more terrible because so concentrated and it was impossible to allow them free vent. “‘ Sir, do you dare doubt me? ”’ demanded Lady Saxondale, stopping abruptly short and turning upon him the full power of her looks. He staggered back for a moment, for it struck him that there was something so confident and so full of assurance on her part that it was impossible she could be practising a deception; and his countenance became ghastly, while a sickening sense of utter desolation and wretchedness seized upon his soul. Lady Saxondale’s eyes lingered upon him but for a moment, and then she pursued her way toward the drawing-room. Again mastering his emotions, and clutching at the hope that hers was the attempt of a desperate woman to carry a tremendous deceit with a high hand, he followed her into the apartment. COnniCcooolKSs (S(O)