The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

a THE PURSUER AND THE FUGITIVES 139 nations which were given at the time when Lady Saxondale and her daughter-in-law were first brought together, it will speedily become evident that the fact of Edmund being at liberty materially altered all her ladyship’s plans, and She could not now constitute a suit in the ecclesiastical courts for the annulment of her son’s marriage with the Baroness de Charlemont, inasmuch as by obtaining from the guardians a written guarantee to allow Adelaide two thousand a year, and by assigning to her the castle in Lincolnshire as her abiding-place, a virtual recognition of that alliance had been given. What, therefore, was Lady Saxondale’s position? Just this: that in about a year and a half Edmund would come of age; she would be reduced to a mere cipher, having no further control over the immense revenues of the house of Saxondale, having no right even, unless with his permission, to set foot across the threshold of either the mansion in Park Lane or the Lincolnshire country-seat; reduced to a jointure of some three thousand a year, and, what would be worse than all, compelled to behold her daughter-in-law Adelaide, whom she hated, occupying the high place which she herself had so long enjoyed. This was the position to which Lady Saxondale would find herself reduced, unless by fresh machinations she could contrive to get her son Edmund completely into her power, and obtain the fullest placed her in a more perilous position than ever. and completest influence over him. All these matters were duly weighed and considered by Lady Saxondale immediately on receiving the intelligence of her son’s escape; or, rather, we should say, so soon after- ward as she could compose herself for such serious and painful meditation. But it was not very long ere her lady- ship became sufficiently tranquillized to envisage her position calmly, and her resolves were speedily taken. She sent at once for Lord Harold Staunton, and ad- dressed him in the following manner: ‘““HKdmund has escaped. It is of the utmost consequence that he should be again got into my power. For this purpose I am about to leave London. Do you on your part lose no time in getting that woman Madge Somers away from Deveril’s house. You and I, Harold, have now each to play a part upon which much depends; you must not sleep over your work, as I assuredly shall not be caught slumbering at (E(0) ai (C 0)(6)(0) <S (C(O)