His Other Wife: A Novel — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

LOST. 157 » Mr. Croft approached his wife, and held a whispered conversation of a few moments.with her. Leda stated that Vernois and Faith had walked on to- ward the cove before her, and that not finding them there on her arrival with Miss Draper, she naturally concluded they had returned by a circuitous route to the landing. Mr. Croft turned very pale as Leda concluded her account. He said, in a muttering tone: ‘Good God! suppose any harm befalls the girl?” ‘‘Well, it is not our fault,” said Leda, shrugging her handsome shoulders, and looking indifferent. ‘*Do you suppose she will exonerate us if evil befalls the girl?” ‘Leda made no answer to this, but looked startled, and remained very thoughtful where she leaned over the rail- ing in the bow of the boat. | Leaving her side, Mr.. Croft called for volunteers among the gentlemen to go with him in search of the missing pair. ‘*Vernois is no woodsman, and Faith still less of one. No doubt they have got bewildered among the blind paths through the forest,” explained Mr. Croft to the company. In a few moments a dozen men, provided with lanterns and torches, were on their way toward the wood, that was now wrapped in darkness, for only here and there the moonbeams could pierce through the dense roof of over- Eomicbooks: (E(@) 3