The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

THE MEETING 309 “Doubtless from a friendly source? ” ejaculated Juliana, inquiringly. “ Yes, from a source where reimbursement never will be demanded,’’ responded Villebelle. ‘‘ But let him leave this. neighbourhood. While on the Pyrenean frontier, there will ever be a temptation to induce him to cross it. Urge him, Juliana, to remove farther into the interior of France. Tell him that for the sake of his life you yourself voluntarilv and cheerfully renounce every hope of accompanying him into Spain, and persuade him to turn his attention to some pursuit by which he may earn his livelihood in this country. Do you promise me to follow this advice? Do you pledge yourself to make sacrifices for the sake of him who has become your husband? ”’ | “Is his position, then, really so hopeless?’’ inquired Juliana, with a sickening sensation at the heart, as all her fine dreams of enacting the feudal peeress in a castellated mansion on 4 Catalan domain seemed to dissipate like the mists of morning when the sun is up. ““ It is hopeless,” answered Villebelle. ‘ Painful — nay, even more, torturing to me though it 1s, to be thus compelled to speak such truths, every one of which must penetrate like a dagger into your heart, it is nevertheless my duty as your brother-in-law, and for your sister’s sake, to speak thus openly. Now, fail not, Juliana, to follow the counsel which I so earnestly and so disinterestedly give you.”’ “TI will, Etienne,’’ she answered, but it was almost in a dying tone; for though now utterly relieved from her first apprehensions that she had married an impostor, she yet had the frightful conviction forced upon her that her husband was a proscribed outlaw, and a pauper dependent upon the bounties of friendship. At this moment the Marchioness of Villebelle returned to the room, and the marquis hastened to say to her, ‘‘ Con- stance dearest, I have told Juliana all that it was agreed be- tween you and me that I should tell her. She has faithfully pledged herself to follow my advice, and I therefore conjure you to control your own feelings as much as possible, so that the parting moments need not be unnecessarily embit- tered.”’ Constance did her best to obey her beloved husband’s injunctions, but she could not altogether subdue her emo- CONNIEDOOKS eC)