The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

€ ‘ 64 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. ‘Grant me one favour?” whispered the trembling girl. “Name it?” “‘ Not to mention this to Richard ?” ‘‘ Not for worlds! in his present excitable state, it might be fatal to him. And you, Amy, promise me that, for the future, you will not take these walks alone? Manchester is not the safest place in the kingdom for an innocent, unprotected girl.” The promise was given; Amy secretly resolving for the future to employ a young friend in her transactions with the house for which she worked. When Henry Beacham arrived at the counting-house, after having seen Amy home, he found Matthew Small seated, as usual, at the desk, driving away with his pen as if nothing had occurred. A close observer might have detected a malignant glance from his little gray eye as the young man entered; but nothing to denote the humiliating castigation he had so lately received. ‘¢ Has my uncle arrived?’ he demanded. One of the three Smalls nodded in the affirmative, and pointed to the private room, as much as to say that he was occupied; but Henry, not heeding the intima- tion, entered without being announced, and found the two partners in earnest conversation. ‘¢ So,” said his uncle, as soon as he saw him; “ what’s this I hear—a broil im the open street ?”’ ‘‘ Ts Mr. Small your informant, sir?’ demanded the young man. COniiclooecl SS (SO