Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

42 ANGELINA; OR, ’ from his chair, and stalking once or twice across the room, he muttered to himself: — ‘¢ This mystery I am determined to fathom, for should it be Ae—” ‘¢ Fe! who?” eagerly demanded his wife, “ of whom in the name of wonder are you speaking ?” ‘¢ Ask no questions;’’ returned Mr. Woodfield angrily, carefully folding up the paper, and placing it in his pocket; ‘* you know I hate inquisitiveness, Dame.”’ ‘‘ But surely.a subject of such deep. interest to us all, husband,” replied Mra, Woodfield, ‘‘and one which seems to threaten us with danger, must be—”’ ‘* Psha !—enough of this ;’’ interrupted her husband, *‘ you are always con- juring uf some apprehensions or the other, before there is any occasion ;— getme my hat and stick, Laura, I will away to the Baron De Morton, and proud and haughty as he is, insist upon an explaction of his conduct yes- terday.”’ . _ ** Well, you may treat all those things as lightly as you please,” remarked the dame, “but I think there is plenty of cause for fear, or else it's very strange indeed ; at one time we are frightened at the appearance of a ghost, who insists upon your holding a private conversation with her; then the Baron De Morton, with his forbidding countenance, comes here, and demands a pri- 9 vate interview with you, and you are both locked in for more. than an hour, ~ talking about the deuce knows what. After this, the same nobleman makes an attempt upon the life of our niece ; and then she is almost scared out of her . senses hy the appearance of another ghost or a witch, who warns her of God knows what approaching calamity ; and yet you say that I am conjuring up apprehensions before there is any occasion. For my own part, [ only wish we were far away from this spot, for I have never had a moment’s peace since we have resided on it, what with ghosts and hobgobiins; haunted ruins; de- sperate smugglers, skeletons in old chests, and one thing and another.” Before the good old dame had half finished this harrangue, her husband had left the cottage, and was onhis way to De Morton Castle. The morning passed away without anything worth noticing taking place, Angelina’s thoughts being occupied with thinking of the events of the previous day, and the pro- bable result of her uncle’s visit to the Baron. Dinner time came, and yet Mr. Woodfield did not return, but this excited very little surprise, as they knew he had to transact some business a few miles off, and they thought it was not at all improbable, that he had gone there before coming back to the cottage. in the afternoon Laura and her mother went to old Dame Gertrude, to make her acquainted with all that had happened, and our heroine was left by her- self, Mr. Woodfield haviog given her strict injunctions not to quit the cottage during bis absence, upon any account whatever. | At length tized with reading, she walked into the garden, and entered a amall summer-house at one end of it, which her father had erected, and which was her favorite retreat. She was examining some carnations with her back to- wards the door, when she was startled by feeling her hand pressed by somebody, and turning round, she beheld the handsome stranger, with one knee bent gracefully to the earth, and looking up in her countenance with an expression of the most intense admiration. | sad comicbooks.c@