Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

ae ae ar ene i Bi Ns Seis neors BS ee 162 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. ‘©And do you insist, my dear Jane, that we part here? I am sorry, very sorry. I can’t. tell you how much our voyage together. has done to attach me‘to you. I almost hoped you would be willing to stay with me. The very sailors will be sorry to lose their ‘ doctor.’ COan’t we secure you somehow as the DLOpERY, of the Royal Bess, and keep you for all her voyages,” said the elderly lady, in tones loud enough to reach Maurice distinctly. —. The woman addressed, who had a fresh, frank face, and grave, steady eyes, answered promptly: - Jndeed, indeed, Mrs. Warner, that would be a very tempting fate. But my duty lies in another way. I told you before there was no idler’s life waiting for me when | reached England. You know I have taken Will under my wing, besides, and I must set him a good example. No, much as we should enjoy being in your company, I think it wiser for us to set at once upon our own business, and use ourselves to depend upon our own resources. Besides, there is the errand which brought me to England, instead of sending me to America. Ido not feel right to delay it an hour. I mean to have the carriage take me promptly to the London train, and Will has decided to go with me. But, if you please, do not state the fact to any one of the ship’s company. Let them think we aceompany you.” The lad, who had been casting furtive glances toward the ship, pulled nervously at the speaker’s sleeve. He was standing nearer to Maurice than the others, and the latter therefore heard his low ejaculation: ‘‘Oh, Jane, let us get away while he is on board. Don’t wait for a carriage to come here. Let us go and find one.” “Hush, Will! Your terror is absurd. Why will he care to follow us, when he has not discovered your identity?” | “‘Oh, Jane, don’t trust to that. He gave mea look as I came across the plank, and I read there in his terrible eye Dt comicbooks.com