A Silver Brand — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

216 | A SILVER BRAND. thinking of little Molly to-night? Little Molly, as hugged my neck so tight, and said, *‘You’re a coming, too, Jack; you’re a conung some time, too,’ and dropped back dead. It’s them great blue eyes of hers. They’ve got just the innocent look in ’em that Molly’s had. I'll let them have . the key inside. I will, so if they can’t get out, Mike sha’n’t be able to get in either while I’m gone. When I once get this money I’ll wash my hands of all this dirty work—I will. I swear I will, for little Molly’s sake. How long it is since I’ve thought of her. By George! she wouldn’t know the great, black, rough villain I’ve grown into !” And he sighed drearily, and then snapped out to Mike, who was building a fire in the hearth of what seemed to be the kitchen of the house. “Look alive there,man, isn’t the fire built yet? When it is ask the young lady if she would like a cup of tea.” ' All unconscious of the singular softening of Jack’s wicked heart through her influence, Serena turned to Lina as he closed the door, and shed her first tear as she clasped her in her arms. | : “Lina, dear Lina, Heaven be praised that we are safe from the indignities I dreaded. We shall be safe, and treated respectfully. I have no concern about it now. The man is only thinking about the money he will obtain as a ransom, and that very money will only be secured through your safety. My worst fears are set at rest.” Lina returned her kisses with redoubled fondness. “Then I will try to be patient and cheerful. You know how many times I have said I would welcome any change. I ought not perhaps to complain of this, but one thing is evident, there is no delusion about my expectations. You see even this ruffian seems to understand it. He wants the name of a great man in Germany. Serena, dear Serena, do you think I shall ever find it out for myself?” — 2 Let us hope so, dear,” returned Serena. ‘Will you look into the other room and see what sort of a place it is? And I must search for the medicine chest, and find a cor- dial of some kind.” Stephano opened his eyes and smiled. “I am recovering my strength. I think I could riae | without assistance, but it is better not to try. They must believe me helpless and unconscious.” ~~ And so they believed him when the two men came in with the cot-bed, and lifted him upon it carefully and he gave no sign of intelligence. _ ee | ~~ comicbooks (Efe)