Roxy Hastings — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. 217 ‘Pray tell me all that you know or believe, then. Iam really very deeply interested in this subject.” “I suppose so,” said the disappointed girl, “or I should not have come to you with this intelligence. In short, then, I know that Lucy is alive—or rather that she was alive and well a few weeks ago.” Charles arose and walked the room some minutes with- out speaking, and when at last he stopped in front of his visitor, his face expressed more of perplexity than of joy. ~ This is certainly most extraordinary news,” he said. “Do her parents know it?” “They do.” ‘ How long have they known it?” “Only three days.” | “ Did they send you here ?” “No, sir; they were not even aware of my coming.” ~* What would I have given to have had this information a few months sooner—but now—but now !” “I must infer,” said Miss Blythe, rising and speaking sadly, “that you have ceased to feel any deep personal in- terest in my friend.” “She was almost a stranger to me, but—” “A stranger! Good heavens! Am I not talking to Mr. Alfred Lee ?” “Certainly not, miss. Alfred is my brother.” “Oh, I am so glad. Surely, surely, he will rejoice at . this news.”’ “ He will rejoice, as I do, for her sake, and her friends. But let me explain that there are some complications about this matter, which will modify his joy, and will greatly embarrass us all.” : “T think I can guess them.” “Very likely. Oh, that we could have known this sooner! How he loved her—how he mourned her, no lan- guage can tell; but, alas! he has since been encouraged to form another attachment for a sweet, innocent girl, whose affections are of course fully centered upon him.” Mary sighed and said : : “And they are engaged, I suppose.” “Yes—impliedly, at least—and probably by actual agree- ment. Butitis my duty to inform Alfred of this news, for sooner or later he must know it, of course. Perhaps you would prefer to communicate it to him yourself; if so I will call him, for he is in the house.” , “Certainly not. Let me not even be present when it is \ Comichboo cS (E(6) im