The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XVII THE LAST PLOT Two days after the incidents which we have just related, Lady Saxondale said to Edmund and Adelaide after break- fast, ‘‘ To-morrow morning I purpose to leave you. ‘The warfare is at an end between us. That we can part with very friendly feelings is not to be supposed, but at least let us separate in peace, and with a resolve to think on either side as little of the unpleasant past, as possible.” ‘Well, mother,’’ answered Edmund, ‘‘I don’t want to vex or annoy you, although there are many things which might induce me to do so.”’ “No,” observed Adelaide, “‘ we will not have more angry words,’ but she could not repress a look of exultation at the thought that she was now completely triumphant, and that Lady Saxondale was utterly humiliated. ‘Yes, to-morrow,” said the latter, ‘‘ immediately after breakfast, I shall leave Saxondale Castle, most likely for ever. It is my intention to repair to the Continent, and to live in tranquil seclusion for the remainder of my days. Again therefore do I beseech that the last few hours we are to spend in each other’s society may be embittered as little as possible by allusions to the past.” Her ladyship thus spoke in order to throw Edmund and Adelaide completely off their guard, and for the purpose of still more convincing them of her sincerity, she wore a desponding, a dejected, and a humiliated look, as if feeling herself completely vanquished and prostrated. But all the while she had a certain plan agitating in her thoughts, — a plan which, if successfully carried out, would not merely rid her of Adelaide, but would place Edmund completely in her power. It was a hideous and a diabolical plan, the 196 CONNIE NOOO KS (E(0)