José — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE. 115 “Well, isn’t your father here, and——” replied the housekeeper, with a touch of embarrassment, “is it’ not true that you are soon to become our young mistress? McAllister—that is the superintendent, and, like me, a fraction of the McGregors—was ‘quite positive about it, and has been telling the servants so much about the elegance and beauty of their future mistress that they are ready to break their necks to get a glimpse of you.” ) Mary slowly lowered her head in her hands. “T shall see you again, Hattie,” she said after a pause; “but for the present I beg you to regard me simply a guest of the house. I came here to please my father. I never saw Mr. McGregor until I met him on the way—that is all there is between us— and:Iam ill prepared to decide so soon whether I shall ever be able to make up my mind to stay here. Please accept what Ihave said as a token of my confidence, Hattie, and do not repeat it.” She gave the housekeeper her hand, which the latter seized with an intelligent nod of the head, and arose from her seat. “And can’t-I serve you with anything this even- ing?” she asked. “T think it will be best for me to retire early, so that to-morrow I may be fully prepared to appre- ciate your tender solicitude,” replied the young lady, with an effort ata smile. The old lady retired from the room with a “thank you, Miss Mary.” In the opposite corner-room of the main wing, young McGregor and his companion, Brown, had — just completed a hearty repast; and stretched out upon a chair, which he had tilted back, the former was blowing clouds of smoke into the air from his Eomichooks