Guy Hammersley; or, Clearing his Name — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

GUY HAMMERSLEY. 43 animated. It was apparent that she was strongly interested in the idea Miss Stanwix’s talk had sug- gested to her. ‘‘Of course it would be a sacrifice, in one sense,’ she went on, ‘‘for me to give up a permanent abid- ing place, but who knows but what I may earn enough in a few seasons to purchase a little home for ourselves in some charming near-by place like Short Hills or Pelham?” At this point the bell summoned them to dinner, Guy would gladly have stayed away. He did not know how many Eliza might have told of what she had overheard. But then, he reflected, he was inno- cent, and should not be ashamed of anything, so, though it cost him an effort, he tried to summon all his usual buoyancy of spirits when he descended to the dining-room with his mother. | They sat at a small side table, and thus did not come into direct communication with the other board- ers, for which, on the present occasion, Guy was devoutly grateful. But all of the ladies came up to Mrs. Hammersley to inquire how she felt after her experience of the morning, and of course they all spoke to him. The accident, however, furnished the main topic of conversation, and at last the meal, for which Guy had but little appetite, was over and they went up- stairs. ‘Then you do not want me to look for another position, mother ?”’ began Guy, when they were once more seated in his room. ‘* Not for a day or two atany rate,” was the answer, (ECO MICE Ss