A Silver Brand — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

se A SILVER BRAND. euoue perception of my thoughts, a.ready sympathy, a generous friendship that makes:you seem so much more a woman than Lina, that I do not remember that your ages are the same. It is true, I would rather believe you just what Ihave known you— Serena. ‘There isa great deal of meaning in the name. You have fitted your character to it. I» should be sorry, I think, to have it changed. . And yet it may be wrong in me.” “T don’t think I understand you now, Mr. Nathan- : lel,” smiled Serena. He smiled sorrowfully. “T don’t dare affirm that I understand myself. Lina calls me old Nat, a dozen times over, but you— Serena, I never heard you say anything but Mr. Nathaniel. And yet I dare say [am just as much an old man, a rough old fellow to you also?” “No, sir, not that, indeed not that,” answered Serena, quickly, a soft pink color blushing over her — clear cheek, “but my kind friend, my wise teacher, my generous"benefactor always. But for your assist- ance, should I be able to hold the school which gives to grandmother and me our humble subsistence? Next to her, I call you my benefactor.” “But the time will come speedily—it cannot help coming,” he said, abstractedly, “when the nearest and dearest friend will be yours. And then you will laugh at this queer friendship of ours.” oie “There will be no friend who can be near or dear to me, if capable of so base an influence,” returned. Serena, reproachfully. “Do not think of me so un- worthily, Mr. Nathaniel. But if I am to return this evening, I must make haste home. Did you say | should see you at the wharf?” “T did not promise that you should see me. But l shall be close at hand to watch over your safety.” “T don’t know why, but I seem to feel a thrill of premonition as if to-night was to bring a startling and exciting experience,” observed Serena, thought- fully. “Dear little Lina’s happiness is as dear to measmy own. I feel almost as sure as she, that some brilliant fairy-life lies waiting somewhere for her.” : GComicboo <S} (ele)