A Silver Brand — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

212 | A SILVER BRAND. He smiled very feebly and turned his eyes again to Serena’s calm and saintly face. ae “Hardly yet, I fear; but while I have been gasping for breath I have been thinking. They must not know I have revived. Let them think me still helpless and. insensible. And who knows what opportunity may come?” He tried to lift his head while he was speaking, but turned deadly pale again, and shut his eyes. “Not yet,” whispered Serena, hastily moistening his lips, and then wiping his forehead with the wet hand- kerchief. ‘‘If we only had some wine to give you or re- storative of any sort. Try the water again.” “Thank you. Don’t distress yourself.’ Let me _ lie quietly and I shall come out right,” he whispered, after moment’s rest. , Serena’s soft fingers drew away the curling wet hair, and wiped again the slowly oozing blood from the gaping — wound, which she examined with steady eyes, while Lina ’ shrank back, sick and giddy at the sight. | “No, itis not a dangerous wound. I can see that it is not,” she said. ‘And since you have revived, with your mind unharmed, Iam confident that the worst is past. It is the weakness from the loss of blood, and the effects of that stunning blow that trouble you now.” , “Yes, Iam sure of it. Letme still feign insensibility when those men are near, until I have my strength back again. Oh! for my pistols, or Nat’s trusty rifle!” he ex- claimed, with more spirit than he had yet exhibited. ‘‘Hush !” whispered Serena. ‘They are coming back.” It was Robinson’s rough hand which turned the key, and his odious voice which jerked out an oath because the rusty lock refused to yield at the first effort. But he as- sumed a poor air of gallantry as he turned to them. “Well, my fair ladies, I have been faithfully at work in your service. Every door and window is safely barred from attack without, as well as escape within. I have made a little room in readiness for you.” “Why have you taken us away in this strange fashion ?” asked Serena. “ What have I done to provoke such ill will on your part?” “Bless your pretty eyes! nothing, nothing at all,” ie swered the man, carelessly. “‘And if you behave civilly there sha’n’t any harm come to you. Now make your- selves happy and contented, and I promise you it will all come out right,” Sten . Eomicbooks (Ele)