Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 163 you, and my nose would snore, though I tried my very best not to let it.” *‘T am sorry for that, Sophie, but I don’t think you can help it. Did you keep the door locked and sleep on the sofa?” ) ‘© Yes, Miss Iva; and Mr. Lindhurst he came twice to the door and asked me if all was safe. Sure, miss, I don’t know what the panic was for. Be there burglars round?” ‘‘T hope not, Sophie. Where is Mr. Lindhurst?” ‘¢In his room, now; he staid up all night, and your ma has made him go now and sleep.” ‘¢ Where is mamma?” | ‘In the kitchen, I think, speaking to Mrs. Haller.’ I went into the breakfast-room, and sat waiting dor my mother to come 1n. After all, what had I to fear? This was home, and who could invade these sacred walls unseen? Surely I had turned a Machiavelli, to question with dark suspicion the good faith of every living creature. While these thoughts were occupying me, my mother en- tered and greeted me tenderly. There was a puzzled ex- pression on her face which I did not fail to notice. ‘“Mamma!” I cried, ‘‘tell me what has happened.” “My dear, I am at a loss what to think; you must have made some curious mistake last night. The truth is, the only lady who arrived at Stanton’s last night is Mrs. Ring- wood, the widow lady who staid here last winter. Nelson has made as many inquiries as he could in a private way, and it seems perfectly preposterous to molest such a person. She is an elderly, quiet, invalid lady, with gray hair, and she has quite a reputation for her charity. Mr. Stanton’s people spoke of her almost with veneration. She has been traveling for her health, and came here hoping to re-occupy Silverlea for the summer, quite unaware that it had been let to any one else. She ig undecided yet whether to go away or try to find some house round Ranelagh which would suit her. The probability is that she will stay at the hotel some days. Now, my dear, does it not seem ridiculous for us to proceed in any way against a lady of Mrs. Ringwood’ S reputed character?” ‘‘All this sounds very plausible, mamma,” I responded, gravely, ‘‘and I confess that my convictions are staggered. One cannot be sure that a face seen once by the faintest of CORNUCG OOO S (©)