A Fair Fraud — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

120. A Fair Fraud impulse not to Icave her entirely to her own devices. It was a long and a very cold drive, and although the ladies were well wrapped up it was scarcely weather for such an expedition. There had been a partial thaw, so that the ice on the lake was now broken up, and the roads were heavy with half-melted snow and slush, whilst a keen east wind rendered it almost colder than during the recent hard bright frost. The three women were very silent, and Marion could not help studying her com- panions’ faces. Mrs Lane looked excited, and there was an impression of secret triumph in her aspect. Hester, on the contrary, appeared to be miserable, and Marion felt sure that the _ expedition was none of her contriving, and that she had not desired it. Marion was puzzled and perplexed by her face of wretchedness, which almost, indeed, amounted at moments to actual pain. They reached the farmhouse where Mr Drury had arranged to lunch, before the sportsmen had put in an appearance, and presently everyone was busy unpacking the hampers and setting out the dishes and plates on the table in a large, empty room, which the people at the farm had prepared for the meal. Whilst Marion was helping with the rest taking some GOMMGIOO <S (GO)