A Silver Brand — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

i a’ ss : afin Pg . tha ie Fa 254 = Fe oe BY A SILVER BRAND, 3 119 her cherished friend and companion. I am deeply inter- ested in her high hopes, her magnificent prospects, you see. ButI must not be chattering here with you; I must attend to my hostess duties. Sit quietly, both ‘of you, until I call you.” When the pleasant meal was over, and the table had been removed, and the shining ware returned to the closet fresh and cleansed, Serena came out herself to the porch, and sat there a little while, with her head resting against her grandmother’s knee, and her cool, soft hand nestling in the aged palm. ' “Grandma, dear,” said she, softly, “there is nothing for me to build an air castle upon, is there ?” ‘‘T don’t think I know what you mean, Serena,” returned the old lady, smoothing the soft hair from the broad forehead. Serena lifted her hand, and noitited to the wrist. “Ts there any meaning to that? Did you ever hear of any family who had itas a birthmark? Weread of such things sometimes.” ‘No, dear, I never did. It doesn’t show as it used to. It was so much larger when that was a little baby arm. And yet it was full a month after your birth before I noticed it at all. Because I was so full of trouble, I sup- pose, and my eyes were dim all the time weeping for my poor daughter’s death.” “Tell me about my mother. There is always comfort thinking about my mother. She was good, and beautiful, and refined, I know,” cried out the girl, impulsively. “‘T have told you so many times,” replied Madame Peyron, sadly. “She was apretty girl, and good, too. But you know she was not a lady. She was only a blythe seamstress when she met poor Gottlieb first, and sad enough was the end for her. Alack a day !” ‘Do I look like her, grandmother ?” The old lady shook her head slowly. ‘No; it has always seemed strange to me, Serena, that there is not a look like father or mother. You have a grander way with you, more like the gentle folk. I have minded it ever since you were a mere toddling thing.” “But I am really and truly your daughter’s child?” per- sisted Serena, lifting up her head, and looking full with those clear, soft eyes into the other’ s face. ‘‘Really and truly! What else could you be? Sacer child, you have some strange things in your mind. Have I ever Rixen you into any care but my own, from the day Eomicbooks