A Silver Brand — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. - ~——~S~=S:«C<ODL he pressed his lips to the fair hand that clung to him so trustfully. ) 3 | ‘ And he hurried back, hearing a shrieking cry from one of the servant-women below, and understanding that poor old Wirt’s trial had begun. CHAPTER XXIII, A MERRY MEAL, “Waken, my Serena, my queen of happy prisoners. How can you sleep so tranquilly remembering that the day dawns upon us amid locks.and bars, and in this grim' light from which the odious shutters bar out the sun- beams?” whispered Lina in Serena’s ear, dropping a kiss between every word or two, upon the clear white cheek. Serena looked up with a start, stared down a moment at her crumpled dress, and rose up. “Why, grandmother, dear,” began she, and then paused, the smile fading off from her lips, and. a little tremor cross- ing her face. ‘‘Ah, I had forgotten. Good-morning, Lina. I am glad to see you cheerful. Can it be really day ?” ‘‘T suppose itis. I found a chink in the shutters and put my eye to it and beheld the sunlight sparkling warm and bright upon the water. Don’t look so woe-begone, Serena darling, or I shall sit down myself atid weép. And that would not do, J am sure, for my weeping is as stormy and fierce as my delight is wild and jubilant.” “T was. thinking of my poor old grandmother. I fear she is shedding very bitter tears for me. Ah, my dear little school! Ah! me, Lina, it will never do for me to think about it! Come, let us go out and see how our patient has prospered. Have you heard anything from our jailer ?” | ‘‘VYeg—T heard him try the door of the other room. If he had been polite enough to knock I should have opened it for him. You must go out and see that sick man, dear. And are we to hunt around like the birds and chickens for our own breakfast, or will it come, as it does to all caged creatures? If only we were in fairy-land and had a wand !” ' “Tet me try what my spells may invoke,” said Serena. “The man has a gentle spot in his heart certainly. It was. very good in him to furnish us with this basin of water, for it must be a trouble to find fresh water on this sterile — spot. Now that my face at least has had its morning Gomicbhoo SS (Efe)