A Silver Brand — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND, — 2 175 — “You need rest, and food, too, I presume,” said Nat, compassionately, and not without quiet tact. ‘“ And I also am faint and weary. Would you mind making mea cup of tea, Miss Penelope? I will soon have a fire kindled.” . And without giving her opportunity to refuse he hurried his kindlings into the grate, and started a bright blaze under the tea-kettle. Half mechanically Penelope put down her bundle and came nearer the scene of operations. ‘You will find my humble ware in that closet, and a loaf of bread, and such simple accompaniments as I can get easily. This little table will answer, won’t it?” he con- tinued, in such take-it-for-granted way that Penelope could not demur. | | So she set out the table, and made it ready in her woman’s neat fashion, and when the silvery steam. came. _ buzzing merrily from the tea-kettle, she made the tea. And then the two sat down, half conscious of the strange- ness of the position, and yet the sensitiveness blunted in both- minds. by the abstraction and anxiety concerning the mutually beloved one. Penelope drank her tea with feverish relish, but could not force food into her parched throat, and Nat, under- standing how it was, did not urge it upon her. When she had restored everything to order Penelope took up her bundle. | ; | } “Where are you going, Miss Foss?” asked Nat, gently. “Anywhere and everywhere,” she ‘returned, sorrow- fully, “until Lina is found.” “But to-night, Imean. A woman cannot be wandering around at night.” — ‘“T don’t know. I shall pay one of the fishermen to row me away.” “Why not sleep to-night at White’s house?” suggested he. “I will go down there with you, and after that, if you will take my advice, you will go and stay quietly with Madame Peyron. The poor old lady, remember, has a still heavier loss than yours. You can be of much comfort to her and each can cheer the other and help keep up good courage and a hopeful heart. Ihope you will abandon this wild scheme of going on the search yourself. J prom- ise solemnly to bring you word of the slightest clew we _ obtain.” “You are kind, very kind, when my own kin turn from me in anger and reviling,” she murmured, standing, with the bundle on her arm, like one dazed. | “That Theodosia, is the dragon Lina has playfully Eomicbooks (Elo)