A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

UNCERTAINTY. V3 ** 1 see George Edicott, the young fellow who spent the summer here, has sailed for France.’’ Eloise heard the words, and the book was closed; the slender thread to which the little hope was suspended was severed, and the future promised nothing. Laurence was near; he heard the remark and witnessed its effect. He saw the spasm that passed over the face of Eloise, and was not surprised when, a moment later, she rose and disap- peared in the hotel. **'This is terrible!’’ he muttered; *‘ and that poor girl, for years to come, will receive blows like this from the most unexpected quarters.’ That same night, Laurence sauntered down to the sum- mer-house on the cliff. There was a path running round the lawn, the outer edge of which bordered on the chasm. An iron fence usually guarded it, but that very day a part of it had been broken away. It was a dangerous place; one was liable to unguardedly step too near. On the morrow it was to be repaired, but for that night there was no protection to hold back a careless step. Laurence was soon lost in deep thought; he had watched. Eloise, and had marked each day the telling effect of her sad experience. He knew he could speak words that would soothe her, words that might save her life; but he could not discern how he could do so; her sorrow was her secret; no one knew, save by the certainty of observation, that she had a sorrow. His acquaintance with her was but a passing one; and, besides, he was conscious that for some reason she had conceived a dislike toward him. He sat meditating, when he was aronsed by a step... He looked. EORMICLOOKSsCG@