The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 392: what you’re looking at

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

FURTHER UNRAVELMENT o19 you both. Hawkshaw, my dear friend, excuse me if I may now appear to be treating you with a want of confidence, but — ”’ “No apologies, my dear marquis,’”’ said the squire. ‘I am well aware that whatever you do is for the best.” Lord Eagledean alighted from the vehicle, and Doctor Ferney requested the squire to enter the house, observing that whatsoever private discourse had to be held might take place in another room; but even as he spoke, the physician’s manner was still strangely confused, he trembled nervously, and the ghastliness of pallor seemed to have settled itself immovably upon his countenance. They all entered the dwelling together. Mr. Hawkshaw was shown into one room, while the Marquis of Hagledean accompanied Doctor Ferney and Thompson to another. We shall leave the squire to the astonishment into which all these proceedings naturally flung him, and we shall see what took place between the other three. : | Doctor Ferney sank, like one thoroughly exhausted both in mind and body, upon a sofa. The fortitude which had so long upheld him in the maintenance of Lady Saxondale’s various secrets appeared altogether to have given way. He looked like a man who felt that the time destined by Heaven itself for the fullest revelations had now come, as if the veil of mystery which had so long shrouded the past was to be drawn aside by the invisible hand of Providence itself. He was thoroughly crushed and spirit-broken. Remorse for the part which he had enacted in suffering himself to be made the tool of that wily woman seized upon his soul; his _ Sensation was that of a guilty person who feels that the hour has come when penitence must ensue and atonement be made; and under such influences as these the spell of that very infatuation which now for twenty-one long years had bound him to the image of. Lady Saxondale was itself well- nigh broken. At all events, the talisman had lost its hitherto marvellous power. He had a conscience on which there rested a heavy load, and he longed to ease himself thereof. Both Thompson and the Marquis of Eagledean saw that Doctor Ferney was painfully agitated, that bitter feelings were torturing his soul, and they scarcely knew what con- jecture to form as to the precise cause of so much trouble. Thompson especially, who had lived with the physician. ) CONNIE DOOKS (FO)