José — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

232 JOSE. : prostration of her powers had caused her to become the victim of her father’s schemes the day before. McGregor, she confessed, had saved her from a horrible fate, had then yielded to her the choice to pursue whatever way she liked, and furthermore had offered to conduct her*safely across the stream; she herself had expressed the wish to be taken back te the fort, and on her arrival there had given her consent without evasion—and now, in the event that she retracted her word, since the wide solitude confined her to the fort more hopelessly than lock and key could have done, what then? What, if Mc- Gregor should leave her to her fate, or become im- patient with her for her continued resistance, and abandon her; or her father, with a view to teaching her a severe lesson, should go away and thus expose her possibly to a series of trying humiliations? A feeling akin to despair began to rise within her, as thought upon thought thus crowded upon her mind; involuntarily she paused in her walk and heard the door as it was softly opened. “Is my young mistress really quite better?” was heard the voice of the old housekeeper, who, after a careful look into the room, quickly entered with a vessel of steaming coffee. The happy smile upon the old woman’s features sent a pang through the girl’s heart. “Ah, I thought you would feel better — after a good sleep !” She busily approached the table, arranging the breakfast and wheeling up the arm-chair. Fora moment Mary thought of telling the housekeeper all, but just as abruptly she resigned her purpose. Of what significance to the old housekeeper was she, since she recognized in her only the object of her young master’s happiness? Eomicbooks.c¢o m