The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIX THE INQUEST THE haggard ghastliness which a night full of horrors had left upon Lord Saxondale’s countenance was even more than sufficient to impress the domestics generally with the notion that he profoundly felt his bereavement, and thus was it quite unnecessary for him to simulate any show of grief. Squire Hawkshaw — with the most generous consideration for the young nobleman whom, before his supposed calamity, he had well nigh “ cut ’’ — called soon after the breakfast- hour at Saxondale Castle, and felt really shocked on behold- ing the aspect which Edmund’s countenance presented. As far as ever from entertaining the slightest suspicion that there was guilt at the bottom, the kind-hearted squire shared in the opinion of the domestics, that the young nobleman was profoundly afflicted, and that he felt his loss with a greater keenness than might have been conceived on the part of one by no means conspicuous for amiable or generous sensibilities. This was a day of considerable bustle, even in a house of death. Tailors and milliners arrived from Gainsborough to receive orders for the mourning apparel of the household generally; the undertaker likewise made his appearance, and in the afternoon an inquest was to be holden. The hours passed, and Mr. Hawkshaw remained with Edmund, not merely from friendly motives, but hkewise because he was to be a principal witness at the inquest. During these hours Kdmund paced to and fro in the drawing-room, or else threw himself for a few minutes at a time upon a sofa, all his con- duct and proceedings, however, being full well calculated to sustain the impression of his immense woe. Nor were his excitement and agitation altogether feigned. They 221 GoOmicdoo ‘S (FO)