A Silver Brand — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

34 % A SILVER BRAND. lap as if it had burned her. The latter took it up, her cold fingers closing over the paper with a fierce grasp. Fora little time it lay in her lap, and she sat staring down atit. Then suddenly she looked up, and cried out sharply: “In a few months! must she leave us in a few months? oh, that is cruel, cruel!” “Tam trying to think,” said Paul, “what danger there can be. It has not certainly come from any indiscretion of ours. We never had a stranger within our walls, nor allowed even a servant in the house to spy upon us.” “It is not likely. If the danger were on this side the ocean it would be we who received the first warning of it,” returned Theodosia, in her decided fashion. “Something has probably leaked out there. It may be some one is coming to search.” “Good Heaven! if that terrible man himself should come,” cried Rhoda, starting up in a panic at the bare suggestion. “Rhoda!” exclaimed Theodosia, severely, “you always were a simpleton. How is he going to find us in this retired spot? You know we have none of us ever strayed half adozen miles away from it. Besides is he not a prisoner, watched and guarded on every side? Do try to make less absurd speeches. I think, Paul, we must deny her the walks now, for all she has enjoyed them so much.” “Of course we must, that is settled. And you, Urbanus, must keep close watch of all approach to the island. Even if everything was discovered, it would be stratagem and not force that we should be called to meet. It would be very trying indeed if, after three long years of faithful devotion to the cause, a few months should defeat the whole.” “Tt shall not be defeated!” quoth Theodosia, with flashing eyes. “Is not our very honor bound up in its success? Was it nota proud and honorable duty that was given to our keeping; and will it not be our crown of glory when it is fulfilled »” Penelope still sat with drooping head and lowered eyelids. Half unaware that her thoughts were taking speech she murmured; | comicbooks €Ool