A Silver Brand — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

118 A SILVER BRAND. tives are so strange, and cold, and stiff. This Miss Pen- elope had very strange ways. I.almost thought her afraid or angry with me. But it could hardly be.” ‘‘Miss Penelope!” repeated Madame Peyron. “She isa singular woman, a very strange woman; but she has a kind heart, and more than once, when you were small, Serena, has helped me with a generous hand.” . ‘““You know her!” exclaimed Serena, in utter astonish- ment.: “You know Lina’s Aunt Penelope, grandmother ?” “It is she, the countrywoman I have talked to you about, who has lent me a helping hand in my sore need. I had seen her once or twice in the old country. But she had always proud and reserved ways.” Serena stood silent, looking down thoughtfully, when at length she spoke, it was abruptly: _ . ‘‘Grandmother, can you help Lina about her mystery? If you knew these Fosses in their native land, you can ex- plain to her much that puzzles and distresses her.” “No, dear, I am afraid I cannot help. I knew nothing . whatever of the family. This Penelope was a chance acquaintance, made at the hospital where your mother died. She was kind to me then, although there was al- ways ahard, cold way about her that spoiled half her goodness. I suppose my sorrow and the pitiful strait in which I was left moved her compassion. For she took a good deal of pains to obtain assistance for me. And she helped me about coming to America, and twice after she arrived herself she came to see me. She has always seemed to have interest enough to keep track of me, though of late she has not given any sign of her remem- branece. Well, well, I shall never cease to be thankful for the help she gave when I needed it most.” ‘“You cannot tell where she lived, nor how it is Lina is with them,” said Serena, in a tone of disappointment. ‘No, certainly not. I only knew Miss Penelope, and that, as I have told you, as a chance acquaintance.” ) ‘Tam sorry. [have dreamed almost as romantic visions about Lina as she can have done herself. Nothing can be too grand or beautiful for her, I think.” “It is all somebody else; you have never any grand things for yourself, I suppose,” said Mrs. Haynes. ‘‘Shall you be contented with your school keeping all your life?” Serena laughed softly. “Oh, no, indeed. I amto shine in some of Lina’s re- flected greatness. If she is queen, I am to be the favorite maid of honor. If she proves some grand lady, Iam to be Ecomicbooks.com