The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

THE LONELY INN 17 too, she was tortured with the reflection that even if this night should pass away in safety for herself, and that the advent of the morn should enable her to smile at the fears which had haunted her, she might, after all in the meantime undergone, experience failure in her attempt to save the man whom she loved so well; she might in the end be doomed to encounter the saddest and bitterest disappoint- ment. A few hours back her heart had been elate with hope, but now this hope succumbed beneath the dispiriting in- fluences which surrounded her, and became absorbed in the general despondency which engulfed her soul. - Wearily, wearily did the minutes drag their slow length along. Again she looked at her watch, in the hope that at least an hour had elapsed since last she consulted it; but only half that period had fled, —it was eleven o’clock. The sound of voices still came from below. Once more she opened the door to listen, and she heard the mistress of the hostelry talking in the thick, stammering, hiccuping manner of complete intoxication. Closing the door again, she took from her trunk a book for the purpose of whiling away the time in its perusal, but she could not settle her attention upon its pages, and once more she found herself debating upon the circumstances in which she was placed. She re- membered that these muleteers who accompanied this last relay had seen her draw forth her well-filled purse. She regretted that she had thus displayed it, and yet she rea- soned that even if she had not done so they must naturally suppose she had ample funds to meet the expenses of her mode of travelling. Another half-hour passed, and Kate Marshall no longer heard the sounds of voices coming from below. She was almost inclined to lie down and repose her wearied frame. She was deliberating with herself whether by piling her trunk and what little furniture there was in the room against the door she might not be enabled to guard against the sur- prise, when she heard light footsteps approaching across the landing outside. | The latch was raised gently, the servant-girl appeared upon the threshold, and as the light of the candle burning upon the table reached her countenance, Kate immediately saw that it was. very pale. Indeed there was something of subdued horror and deep dismay in the hitherto inexpress- CORNICE DOOKS (C@)