Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

160 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. Hitherto unsuccessful, he had not much hopefulness as he sauntered down one morning early toward the Waterloo dock, of Liverpool. A ship was just entering the dock; and, drawn by that dreamy sentiment which is too vague and romance-whisper- ing to be curiosity, he went down along the quay to the water’s edge, and watched to see, as everybody must who has the privilege, that delightful mystery, a ship coming back from a foreign voyage, and first touching the home shore. There were the usual confusion and noise in settling mat- ters, and coming to a safe anchorage, and for a little time the bustle of hauling ropes and lowering sails, and running to and fro of jubilant sailors, concealed from him a group standing on the quarter-deck. But presently Mau- rice was able to make them out—even see the faces of the two ladies distinctly, and to remark the graceful figure of the lad who stood beside them, but kept his face toward the shore. Something in the expression of the witha brown eyes touched Maurice, and roused the mighty spirit that is in every true man’s soul, whether it slumbers drowsily or keeps a vigilant and earnest watch. ‘<The lad is in trouble of some sort,” said he; ‘‘he al- most seems afraid of the shore. JI wonder what it is!” He was not long in doubt. The plank was put down from the gangway, and gave passage to the whart. He who was evidently master of the vessel came first, and gave orders for a carriage to be hurried down to take the ladies to the town. ‘The others followed, and stood waiting in a little group, not talking, as he fancied the newly arrived voyagers ought, joyously and <pheaiigne but in low and subdued voices. Maurice retreated a little, and leaned against a pile of coffee-bags, which bore with them a foreign scent stolen from tropic shores. - Comicbooks.-co