A Fair Fraud — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

148 A Fair Fraud came up to her and asked her in a lowered voice if she would go and speak to Miss Lane in the morning-room. Somewhat surprised at the summons, for Marion had understood from Mrs Lane that Hester had gone to bed with a sick-headache, she went at once to the morning-room, where she found Hester pacing up and down the room in an evident state of extreme agitation. Miss Lane was attired in a long flowing tea- gown of costly texture, covered with a froth of creamy lace; her hair was disordered, and one silken tress had escaped from its fastenings and hung in a strand of gold down her back; her face was pale, her eyes brimful of tears, and she seemed half-distracted. She turned eageriy to Marion as she entered. ‘Miss Blake—Marion—you will help me, | know? You will be my friend?’ she cried, placing her hands upon hers. ‘Indeed I will. Tell me only what I can do for you?’ : ‘Go and bring your cousin here to me at once. I must speak to him.’ Marion threw a troubled look at her. ‘Dear Miss Lane—Hetty—since you wish me to call you so—is this a wise step? Is it prudent? You have been so brave and noble up to now—you have behaved so well— ‘I know you will think badly of me,’ she GOMMGIOO <S (GO)