The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

THE HEIR oO ladyship? If so, give me the means, and I will depart. at once. But without them I cannot, for it is a beggar, a veritable beggar, that you see before you.” Lady Saxondale appeared to reflect for some moments, and then she said, with more rapid utterance than she had previously used, ‘“ When we were boy and girl, Ralph Farefield, we were companions, and often and often have we played together, as happy, joyous children, in those gardens. I cannot think of all that and not feel some little sympathy on your behalf, — though, God knows, you do not deserve it. But you cannot remain here; you must depart to-morrow, and | have many things to say to you — Do not mistake me; it is merely what I purpose to do for your welfare that I wish to speak to you about. At the same time, I do not choose that others ’’ — and she glanced over her shoulder toward the spot where her father and the sur- geon were conversing together close by Mabel and the child — ‘should think that from any protracted conversation between us I am either led by your entreaties or my own good feeling to do what you so little deserve. Retire, then, for the present, to a room which will be prepared for you, © and to-night, at eleven o’clock, meet me in the chapel. You know your way thither, and the doors will be open.”’ She then bowed with distant coolness, so as to have the appearance of exercising a haughty dignity to put an end to a discourse which should be continued no longer, and she turned to rejoin the group at the other extremity of the room. Ralph, who had listened with mingled astonishment and reviving hope to the singular speech which Lady Saxondale had thus delivered with rapid utterance, remained rooted to the spot for a few moments, but speedily recovering himself, he hastened from the apartment. COnNICLOOOKS (C(O)