The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

158 REYNOLDS’ WORKS case toward the apartment where she expected to find her mother-in-law and her husband. But in the meanwhile let us see what had been taking — place betwixt these two. It will be remembered that when Lady Saxondale directed the servants to take the peasant along with them and give him some refreshments, she had beckoned her son and her daughter-in-law to follow her up-stairs. Those stairs she ascended mechanically, scarcely knowing what she was doing, for, as Adelaide had but too truthfully suspected, her air of cold outward composure was only a mask which the natural strength of her mind and a sort of desperate courage enabled her to assume in order to conceal the horrible feelings and terrific appre- hensions that were agitating in her soul. It was not until Lady Saxondale reached the apartment that she observed her son only was following her, and that Adelaide had re- mained below. | ‘Where is your wife?” she said, with nervous quickness, as she turned and threw a strange look upon Edmund. “TI don’t know — I thought she was with us,” he replied. ‘“T scarcely know what I am thinking or doing— Upon my word, it seems as if I was in the midst of some curious dream! But now, mother, what means all this? Tell me at omce —— ‘Question me not, Edmund,” she interrupted him, her entire form visibly shaken with a cold tremor, which she could neither repress nor conceal. ‘‘ Think what you will, but I conjure you keep a seal upon your lips; breathe not a word to a soul, answer no questions which your wife may put, and it will be all to your advantage. I cannot leave the castle immediately. It would look too strange; but in three or four days I will depart, and never more shall you be molested by me. This I solemnly swear.’’ “Well, at all events it is something gained,’ observed Edmund, and then, as he felt all his horrible suspicions in respect to his mother fully comfirmed, he could not help adding, ‘ But, my God! what made you do that? ”’ “Question me not, I say!’’ she responded, half in a tone of entreaty, half in one of excited impatience. ‘“ Spare me, Kidmund! show yourself above wreaking upon me any - anger or malice that you may feel on account of the past.” “Just now you called me a viper,” said the young noble- te CONNIE NOO! KS (E(0)