The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

18 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ive features of the young Spanish woman, so that Miss Marshall was at once smitten with the conviction that peril menaced herself, but that she had found a friend in this girl. The latter, whose name we may as well state to be Paquetta, laid her finger upon her lip, which was naturally of bright vermilion hue, but now ashy colourless, and quivering also. Then advancing into the room, she made a sign for Kate not to be alarmed, and extinguished the hight. At the same moment she took Miss Marshall’s hand, and gently led her forth from the chamber. ‘The crazy boards creaked beneath their feet, ight though their steps were, and Paquetta squeezed Kate’s hand as an intimation that everything depended upon the noiselessness of their tread. They as- cended another flight of stairs; the girl opened a door, still maintaining the utmost caution, and Miss Marshall was - guided into a miserable attic where a light was burning. This was evidently Paquetta’s own chamber. Having closed the door as noiselessly as she had opened it, Paquetta made Kate sit down upon the mean and sordid bed. Then placing herself by her side, she gazed upon her with a look of mingled compassion, interest, and affright. Having now more leisure to contemplate the girl, Miss Mar- shall saw that there was evidently a profound horror and dismay influencing her; and, oh, how earnestly she wished that they could understand each other by means of lan- suage, so that explanations on Paquetta’s part might re- lieve Kate from the terrible suspense which was devouring her. She however comprehended sufficient to be aware that the girl was acting a friendly part toward her, and that the present proceeding was undertaken with the hope of rescuing her from some danger, but of what nature could not be ex- actly conceived, though it was scarcely difficult to surmise that it was threatened on the part of the people of the house. Kate, taking the girl’s hand, pressed it warmly, and by her looks endeavoured to show the amount of gratitude she felt toward her. Paquetta, again making a sign that the utmost caution must be observed, went to the door, opened it gently, and listened. All, however, was still, and having closed the door again, she made another sign to the effect that it was nec- essary to extinguish the light, but that Kate must not sus- pect her of any treachery. She took Miss Marshall’s hand, CONNIE NOOO KS ol