The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

24 THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER. over your uncle,” replied the young man; “ Mr. Grindem is not often induced to act against his partner’s wishes.” “‘ And I,” said Henry “ why the old gin-bibber all of a sudden took such a warm interest in your welfare ; he is not often troubled with benevolent fancies, I imagine,” ‘* He was my poor husband’s friend,” sighed the widow: “ intrusted by him with everything; he had no secrets from Gridley.” ‘Nor from his wife, I suppose?’ added Beacham, inquiringly. ‘Perhaps not ; but [ had always imagined or rather hoped, that my husband’s circumstances were better than they appeared. He had frequently hinted at our children being provided for: at his death there was nothmg—absolutely nothing !”’ ‘“‘ And yet only the week before he died, when I objected that the pianoforte he had bought for Amy was too expensive, he laughingly assured me he could well afford it. And ten days after,’ she added with a sigh, “‘ | was obliged to part with it to pay the expenses of his funeral. I cannot understand it ; perhaps it will be explained one day.” ‘‘T thought,” said her guest, pointing to an open instrument, “that Amy had preserved her father’s gift.” ‘“‘ That,”’ answered the widow, “1s the strangest part of all. Three days after the sale, it was returned to COniiclooecl SS (SO