Roxy Hastings — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. 219 her life, and whose image no time can ever eradicate from my breast.” : What strange light is that which glows in the dark eyes of the listener? What shadow is that which seems to flit away from his features, leaving them bright and radiant, and altogether unsympathizing with the mournful look and voice of the speaker ? “Tf Roxana and I have been friendly,” continued Alfred ‘it has been with a perfect understanding of each other’s sentiments. She knows that I have no heart to bestow, and if it were otherwise I really doubt whether it would be acceptable to her. I long ago took the precaution to prevent any mistake on this subject, and, indeed, it was not until I had done so, and we had established the rela- tion of quasz brother and sister, that Miss Hastings laid aber her reserve, and admitted me fully to her friend- ship. ‘“You astonish me, Alfred,” replied Charles. ‘‘Tf I had supposed that you shared mother’s mistake on this subject, I should have undeceived you sooner, but I cannot bear to awaken her from so harmless a hallucina- tion. The necessity of concealing my unhappiness from one who so profoundly sympathizes with it has added not a little to its intensity ; and, while I maintain a semblance of cheerfulness, my dejection is daily deepening, and is be- coming a part of my mental constitution.” Charley rubbed his hands, and looked anything but SOrry. “T have said more than I meant to on this point, but it has been in my zeal to impress upon you the fact that Roxy is not, and never by any possible contingency can be, anything more to me than a friend. Do you fully understand and believe me?” , ‘“Yes—oh, yes!” replied Charles, smiling. “I cannot mistake such language as this.” “Tf it grieves you, asI fear it does, to know this, for I begin to suspect there was complicity between you and mother in this innocent artifice.” Alfred paused, and his brother replied : : “Ves, Alf, to be frank with you, I knew of it, and—and. was a party to it.” “ And will it disappoint you very much to know that 1t never can be?” ; “Oh, no; I can stand it,” replied Charles, fairly laugh ing now. “ You shall see’” Gomichoo cS €o m