Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

‘Hazel, what does this mean?” Scene—A reception-room in Madame Hawley’s fashionable establishment for young ladies. Time— An hour after the graduating exercises of the senior class were concluded on commencement day. Dra- matis person#®—Percy Morton, sitting pale and stern upon the sofa, an open letter in his hand,while Hazel, in her spotless graduating robes, and no less pale, but otherwise apparently composed, sat in a low rocker near him. “It means, Percy, just what it says,” the young girl replied to his brief query. A you are going to be a governess ?” “ fes.’’ “That you will not allow me a brother’s privilegein caring for your future ?” “You are not my brother, Percy. I have no real claim upon you.” “No claim upon me! Heavens! Hazel, you have every claim upon me,” Perey returned, in a low, in- tense tone. “You are very good to say so,”’ she answered, with dowuecast eyes, ‘and I know that your kind heart prompts you to do everything possible to shield my future as you have shielded my past. Nevertheless, the fact remains that no kindred tie unites us, and, to be frank, I am too prond to be dependent,” Hazel concluded, with rising color. . “No kindred tie unites us! Hazel,” the young physician repeated, in a voice full of pain, his lips whitening and quivering, ‘‘does no common bond unite our hearts after all these years?” “OF course—I grant that,” she said, unsteadily. “You have always regarded me with kindness and affection ; believe me, I appreciate it, return if. [am very grateful—”" i i