The Widowed Bride — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

04 {THE WIDOWED BRIDE. ‘“‘Yes,” said Rena, recalling one or two casual allusions which she had heard. | - “IT hope Lady Blanche and the countess are quite well?” he asked. | ‘Quite, I believe—thank you.” ‘“‘] had intended to call ere this,” said Mr. Poynings, walking aleng by her side, ‘‘but we business men are not always masters of our own time. Perhaps this after- - noon af ‘They are not at home,” interrupted Rena, rather brusquely; ‘‘they have both gone out to pay visits this af- ternoon.” | ‘“‘In that case, I must postpone the pleasure until some other time,” said Mr. Poynings, smoothly. ‘But pardon the seeming impertinence of the question, Miss Percival. I hope you are not lost in them labyrinths of. sylvan paths. oe: you aware of how far you have strayed from the Cas- tler”? : ‘I know it is some distance,” said Rena, independently; “but [ wanted a-good long walk. Which path will take me with most directness to the house?” “Tf you are not well acquainted with the vicarage, I don’t know whether I could tell you. with sufficient accuracy,” re- turned Mr. Poynings. ‘‘Will you allow me the pleasure of becoming your guide—for a part of the way, at least.” ~ JT do not wish to trouble you,” said Rena, in a tone which evidently meant: ‘‘I wish you would be good enough to mind your own business.” But Mr. Poynings chose only to accept the surface signi- fication of the words. : ‘Tt will not be the least trouble,” he said, blandly; ‘‘on the contrary, I shall regard it as a pleasure. I suppose from the question you first asked me,” he added, as they walked along, ‘‘that Captain Evelyn is soon expected down from London?” . ‘“Yes—with Mr. Alkenard and Lord Vere Temple.” Mr. Poynings’ natural complexion appeared to be pale, but a curious flush rose to hischeek bones as she spoke, and - a peculiar cast in one of his eyes, gone almost as soon as it had appeared, gave a momentarily unpleasant expression te his face. _ ‘He dislikes one of them,” thought Rena. ‘‘I wonder Comicbooks