Roxy Hastings — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS, 207 “TI have reason—some reason—I say not how much—to believe there was a mistake.” | Again the agitated mother was upon her feet, and had approached Miss Blythe, white as a ghost, and trembling violently. “You have not told me all,” she said. “There is more. I see it in your face—in your eyes.” “Yes—there is more—when you are calm enough to hear it.” 7 “Tam calm. Oh, Iam calm,” said the other, speaking rapidly and shaking like one in an ague fit, ‘‘and good news never kills. I know you have good news. I read it on your lips. You think my darling is living—perhaps you know it.” There is no describing the energy with which she spoke. ‘*Yes, I know it.” There was a faint scream of joy, and then she felt the weight grow heavy on the arm which the mother had taken, and she lowered the swooning woman into an easy-chair, and throwing open a door, called for help. Fanny and Grace came running, greatly frightened, and casting almost angry glances at the stranger, they flew to their mother, whom Mary was supporting, and called frantically upon her. “Bring water! Open the windows! She will revive in a moment,” said Miss Blythe, calmly. She did so. “What is it?” she said, when she saw them standing about her, and then catching a glimpse of. her visitor, her memory returned, and such a radiant expression over- spread her face as might have befitted a saint ascending to lory. , ; “Soy! joy! joy!” she said, throwing an arm around each of her daughters, who had pressed closely to her. ‘‘Lucy is alive! Weshall see her again! All our troubles are over, for henceforth we can defy poverty.” The young ladies were terrified, for an instant, with the idea that their mother had gone mad, but when Miss Blythe confirmed her statement, and assured them that she had received a letter from their sister within a week, their delight was unbounded. They embraced each other, they embraced their mother, and then, weeping with joy, they all knelt and returned devoutest thanks to the Giver of all Good. In the height of this great excitement no one had yet asked where Lucy Holden was, or who was this messenger Eomicbooks (e(@)