Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

142 ALFRED DE ROSANN. ally heaved a sigh, it was when he thought of his absent Eloise: but he determined to write to her on the first opportunity, and inform her of his escape, and of his intention to revisit Paris. He knew that his letters would be welcome; and that his presence would be a thousand times more so; and he consoled him- self with the certainty of her unalterable love. - Little or no conversation passed between our hero and his companion, «as they hastened forward in the silence of the night; each appeared occupied with his own reflections. In this manner they completed about four leagues, when suddenly a light met their eyes. Belle-Rose pointed to it as the beacon of their destina- tion; and in ten minutes they stopped at the door of a large cottage, from the windows of which emanated the lustre that had struck them in the distance. Belle- Rose gave a low knock, and was immediately invited to enter. He beckoned De Rosann to follow him; and they found themselves in a commodious chamber, a good fire burning in the hearth, and some slices of meat cooking upon embers by the side. A middle-aged man, and a woman some few years younger, were seated at a table, on which a tureen of smoking soup was already served; a couple of children, with chubby faces and red hands, were playing in a corner. An air of neatness and comfort reigned throughout the modest dwelling; polished saucepans of glittering cop- per adorned the walls; nosegays, arranged upon the mantlepiece in’a tasteful manner, shed a sweet per- fume around; and the white table-napkin evinced the care of a thrifty housewife. The peasants recognised Belle-Rose the moment he entered, and welcomed both him and his companion with the utmost cordiality: De Rosann soon found himself perfectly at his ease, and joined in the con- versation of his hospitable entertainers without the slightest restraint; while the little boys continued their sport in the corner, apparently not much trou- bling themselves about the new arrivals. ‘It is some time since we have had the pleasure of COMIC OOO KSAEO)