The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

108 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘Then do you mean, my beloved Jules,’”’ asked Augusta, ‘that we are to live openly together henceforth, that the necessity for secrecy shall exist no more, that caution shall no longer be used? ”’ “Such is my meaning,” ejaculated the viscount, vehe- mently. ‘‘ Do you object, Augusta? Do you still tremble at the idea of all this coming to your husband’s knowledge? ”’ ‘“Candidly I do,” she answered, raising her head and looking him earnestly in the face. “You have something in your mind?” hesaid. ‘ Speak, what is it? Have I not sworn to be as a husband unto you? Wherefore need you care for him who is absent? Have I not vowed to be a father for your expected babe? What anxiety, then, can you entertain for the future welfare of your as yet unborn child? Speak, Augusta, speak candidly.”’ “Oh, it is all this,” she murmured, forcing tears from her eyes, “‘ which troubles me and makes me wretched. It is only when you are with me that I am happy, because then | forget everything, the virtuous past, the guilty present, the uncertain future. But when I am alone, a thousand terrors -haunt’me. I have a husband who is rich, and under whose care neither myself nor my expected offspring need ever tremble at the idea of want. It is not even now too late for me to take a step which will still leave me in that state of confidence. My husband need not know that I have been guilty, that I have dishonoured him. These people here are bribable, and you, as a man of honour, would never breathe to a soul what has taken place between us. But I must fly hence, I must see you no more.”’ ‘Oh, wherefore this language?’ exclaimed the viscount. | “What have I done to deserve it? You apprehend poverty. Good heavens, am I not far richer than your husband, from all that you have told me, and can I not at any moment place you in a state of independence? Ah, I comprehend! Your fears are natural, as the world goes, though in respect to me, they are not just. You fancy that my love may cool —” “Remember, my dear Jules,’ interrupted the siren, murmuringly, “‘ the love of man is different from that of a woman. A woman may conceive a sudden passion, and yet cling to it devotedly for all the rest of her lifetime, but a man who loves suddenly grows cool suddenly — ”’ ECORNIELOO KS (E(©)