The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 9} Meg smiled, and inwardly congratulated herself that she had not carried out her first murderous intentions. Still she felt uneasy at the explanation which was to follow—it almost destroyed her appetite, but when she saw her children enjoying the unwonted luxury of a plentiful repast, her confidence returned, and she felt that were the act to be done again, she would find courage to doit. Few mothers will have the heart to blame her. *“ And now, Meg,” said Tim, as soon as the table was cleared, the children sent out to play, and a clean pipe and tobacco placed on the polished deal table before him, ‘‘ will thee explain the mystery of this? hast thee found a fairy treasure ? ” “No, Tim; but I have had a visitor.” “ Humph!” “¢ Mr. Marjoram.” ‘* And what the devil,” demanded her husband, opening his eyes with astonishment, “ brought him here? we have neither stolen nor murdered, that I know of?” ‘*No, certainly not,” replied his better half; “it was not that.” ‘Then what was it?” This was a direct demand, which there was no means of evading. Poor Meg’s heart failed her, for she knew how her husband prided himself upon the integrity of his promise and rigid adherence to his word. Still it must be told—and, lke a coward COUN Giool SS (SO