A Silver Brand — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

120 A SILVER BRAND. I brought you out of the hospital? Was I not there to christen you with my tears?) Heaven be praised that they did not endow you with a troubled and sorrowful nature— when you were first laid beside your dying mother. I hope your friend’s grand visions have not made you ashamed or weary of the humble old grandmother !” Serena rose up and flung her arms about the old lady’s neck, and kissed her fondly. : “Ashamed, indeed! You wicked, naughty woman, to hint at such a thing! Doesn’t Mrs. Haynes know how proud Iam of you. _ Never, indeed, if I can help it, shall you have amoment’s reproach to cast at the child for whose helpless infancy you cared so tenderly and toiled so tirelessly. The strange thought did not come from me. It was put into my head by Mr. Nathaniel’s look rather than his speech. It is gone now, however, and it is thor- oughly exorcised, and will never come back. Now let me tell you. a pretty little story about one of my scholars, a cunning little witch, as full of mischief as a rose of sweet- ness. And then I must go down again to the boat. I will © take the key—and you must not lie awake, or sit up watching for me to come.” An hour afterward Serena was gliding down amid the purple shadows of the beach, which could gather no deeper color because the large round moon had swung out slow - and majestic where the crimson sunset glories were still faintly reflected in the eastern sky. She made her way swiftly toward the hiding-place where her boat was kept, and started back a little nervously, when she saw a tall figure pacing just below upon the sands. It moved away a short distance upon her approach, and, after a moment’s hesitation, Serena pushed out the boat, and took the oars. At which the figure again approached, and a mellow voice spoke with gentlemanly courtesy and the utmost re- -_spectfulness, in rather quaintly accented English: ‘‘Can I not be of assistance? I am at your service.” “I need none, thank you. I am perfectly used to the . oars, and my boat is light,” returned she. 3 ‘It is yours then? I have been looking at it longingly. I was never more tempted to make free with another’s property in my life. By some stupidity the fisherman who was to have rowed me over to yonder island, has gone without me. And I cannot find another boat.” _. Serena had been steadily pushing off, but at this she hesitated, “Over to the island?” she repeated, T Eomicbooks:co