The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

THE AYAH AND MR. REDCLIFFE 117 inquired Mr. Redcliffe. ‘‘ She, Sagoonah, is the most fitting person to be made your confidante, and to proffer you such counsel as may be necessary under the circumstances.”’ “Oh, no, sir!’”’ exclaimed Sagoonah, ‘‘ my mistress 1s the very last person whom I can consult.”’ ‘* And it is equally impossible that you can consult me,”’ said Mr. Redcliffe, coldly, for the varying confusion, hesita- tion, and embarassment of the ayah, — a moment’s dignity being succeeded by minutes of tremulous bashfulness, and by a visible difidence in coming to the point, — all these served to strengthen the suspicion which had previously entered the mind of Mr. Redcliffe. ‘“T am a stranger in a strange country,’ continued Sa- eoonah, now throwing a deep pathos into her tone, “‘ and yet you refuse to become my counsellor, my adviser. Ah, sir, if this be the harbinger of that extreme cruelty which I am to experience at your hands when the revelation of my secret shall be fully made — ” ‘“‘ Listen to me, Sagoonah,’’ interrupted Mr. Redcliffe; and though he now spoke peremptorily, yet it was likewise with a certain degree of kindness, for he felt that after all his suspicion might be wrong, and being utterly without vanity or self-conceit, he could searcely fancy it was correct. ‘“ It is - not seemly for us to continue in conversation here; both your character and mine would suffer if we were observed. I do not mean to address you in harsh terms, but you are - now at once to understand from my lps that without further hesitation on your part must you proceed to the communica- tion you have to make to me — _ Unless indeed, Sagoonah, you would rather that we should separate at once, and that we should both forget the occurrence of this private inter- view.” | “ Forget? ’”’ ejaculated Sagoonah, almost in accents of bitter scorn, — not at Mr. Redcliffe himself, but at the idea as she had caught it up. ‘‘ Forget? No, it is impossible. Never can I forget aught that is connected with you. And now you have my secret,” she exclaimed, for a moment flincing her burning regards upon him; then, as the next instant they were again curtained by their dark fringes, she added, in a low voice, “‘ I love you! ”’ Mr. Redcliffe first felt inclined to give vent to expressions of anger and indignation, and this he would assuredly have — Eomicboo CS (E(@)