The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVIII LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE WE must now once more transport the reader into Lincoln- shire. About sixteen months had elapsed since the circum- stances of our story riveted attention upon Saxondale Castle and its neighbourhood. We allude to the period when Adelaide met her death, in the waters of the Trent, at the hands of her own husband. Since that era neither the euilty young man nor Lady Saxondale had revisited the castle, and the circumstance which had created so great a sensation at the time had almost ceased to be spoken of by the dwellers in that district. It was about the time of Juliana’s return to Saxondale House in London that the incidents we are about to record took place in Lincolnshire. One fine day, at the beginning of April, 1846, Mr. Hawkshaw was riding out on horseback, when he encountered his friend Mr. Denison, who was like- wise taking equestrian exercise. They had not previously met for some weeks, inasmuch as the old gentleman had been on a visit to the Marquis of Kagledean at Edenbridge Park in Kent, and had only returned on the day previous to which we are writing. “My dear friend,’’ exclaimed Hawkshaw, when they had shaken hands and exchanged the usual compliments, “T was just thinking of you as I saw you turn the angle of the road. I was wondering when you purposed to come back. What tidings brings you from Edenbridge? All our friends well and happy, as when last I saw them, some fifteen or sixteen months back? ”’ “Ah, that was on the occasion of the four bridals,”’ observed Denison, ‘‘ and you remember that I also was of the party. Yes, they are all well and happy; indeed, I know not 354 CONNIE DOO KS (E(0)