The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 279: what you’re looking at

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

272 THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER. This was a cut there was no parrying: Mrs Small was completely taken by surprise. The cold but polite refusal of the girl, whom she expected to find all gra- titude, to accept her patronage was as mortifying to her vanity as embarrassing to her calculation. Before she could reply, Mr. and Mrs. Bowles, hearing that visitors had arrived, made their appear- ance in the drawing-room. The father of William was a fine hale man of sixty; possessed of a heart as warm as his son’s, only more under the control of reason and experience. Both he and his wife, when it was first proposed that Amy should become an inmate of their house, had given their consent solely to oblige their boy, who, being an only child, was, we will not say a spoiled one —he was too good for that—but the pride of their life —the light of their existence. The orphan had not long been their guest before the old gentleman and wife began to feel as if Providence had given them another child, so did her gentle, grate- ful disposition and attentions win upon their hearts. As a manufacturer, the name of Small, of course, was not unknown to him, although, fortunately, he had never had any dealings with the firm. The lady and her daughter were therefore received, if not warmly, at least with politeness, and hospitably invited to lunch. “Thank you, Mr. Bowles—no,” replied the elder visitor ; “it is not worth while to keep the horses wait- ing. I came with the intention of relieving you of COoniclooecl —_) SS (SO