Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

10 A STRANGE ADVENTURE at once, ‘Impossible !’” returned the physician, smiling. ‘But you have so rapidly recuperated that I should not fear a change so nvuch for youas for many others. It depends somewhat, however, upon where you are going.” Mrs. Marston fiushed slightly at this, but, after an in- stant of hesitation, she said, composedly : ‘Oh, I intend to go to a warmer climate. I shall prob- ably spend the rest of the winter in the South.” ‘Then I think you may go with perfect safety, if you are quite sure you teel well and strong.” ‘‘As to that, I never felt more vigorous in my life; but——” The lady bent her shapely head in thought, a shadow of perplexity and doubt crossing her beautiful face. ‘Perhaps you fear to take the little one; the weather is rather severe for a tender infant,” suggested the doc- tor. ‘“Oh, no. I do not intend to take the child at all,” re- turned the mother, quickly, a nervous tremor running through her frame as she spoke. ‘You do not intend to take your child with you?” re- peated the physician, astonished, while he searched the downcast face before him with a suspicious loox. ‘‘No; and that was what I wished to consult with you about,” replied Mrs. Marston, shifting uneasily for an in- stant beneath his glance. Then she lifted her head proudly and met his eyes with calm hauteur. ‘““VYou wish to leave it out to nurse, perhaps, and desire me to suggest some proper person,” observed Dr. Turner, trying tv explain her conduct thus. ‘‘No,” answered the lady, coldly. “I wished to ask if you could recommend some institution m the city where I could put her, and where she would receive proper care.” Dr. Turner regarded the woman with amazement. “Institution, madame! What kind of an institution ?” he asked, aghasi. ‘““Some public institution, or some home for homeless children,” she answered, not a muscle of her beautiful face moving. “TI really do not comprehend you,” the physician said, almost ready to believe that he was in the presence ofa lunatic, for surely no mother inher rignt mind could think of abandoning her child in such a heartless way. ‘“Tndeed, I thought I made an explicit statement,” re- comicloookks.€