Vashti's Fate — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

re. . ee » a AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 47 pecial dread. She knew him of old—how ‘‘he cared for nothing and nobody” in the way of intimidation—how, from his childhood, he had the most wonderful fondness for peering about old caves, and dark, dungeony places. She had her own reasons for not liking that he should pur- sue his explorations at Everleigh. Miserable as she was in mind and body, to the extreme of nervousness, the prospect. she pictured as before her was almost beyond endurance. She began, however, to realize that her conduct and lan- guage must excite strange thoughts; and so forcing herself to be silent, she sat still till she could speak calmly. “Leonidas,” she said, almost sadly, ‘‘I feel ill; I am scarcely able to be on my feet at all. 1 hardly know what I am saying part of the time, but believe me when I say that I have good and sufficient reasons for not wanting you here. What they are you shall know some day. Now oblige me by making your stay as short as possible.” ‘‘May I stay a week?” She shook her head. ‘“Three days?” “Well, three days be it,” she said; rising. ‘‘I will send Philip to show you to your room.” When Philip came and marshaled him out of the parlor, he found Nora hanging about the hall, with a rather down- cast look in her brown eyes. She brightened up'a good deal when she saw Philip taking his portmanteau up stairs. Evidently she-had been afraid Aunt Margery was going to send him off. He put his hand lightly on her head; witha reassuring glance and smile, as he passed her, and she stood looking after him, smiling too. Leon had scarcely found himself alone in the room: to’ which Philip had taken him, when there came a faltering tap at his door. Upon opening it, there stood Master comicbooks “a ) ; Owe Pie's wie - + Ve ee ee “yy aT i. a ee : “>, ° = - > ol ; * . 2 s+ ; ~ ¢ ot . . a . . , ~_* . - , : , » - a ‘ P . . - é * co m