Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

On their return to England the duchess who, every day became more fond of Helena, invited them to spend two months with her. one at her town house ee the London season, and the other at Osterly ark, Such an invitation was, of course, not to be slighted, and four brilliant weeks were spent in Eng- land’s great capital. Helena was presented at court where shecreated quite a sensation, where even the queen received her with marked graciousuess, and lords and nobles rendered her marked homage, although it gradually began to be rumored that Lord Hartw ell was likely to secure the prize which so many seemed to covet. The duchess appeared in no way averse to such an arrangement, and even hinted to Mrs. Stewart that she should be pleased with the union, if the young people themselves were agreed. After this delightful season in London, they all re- paired to Osterly Park, where we first introduced Helena, and where Percy Morton was called to at- tend her after her mysterious fainting turn in the Rhododendron Walk. The duchess was to go to Brighton some time in July, and Mrs. Stewart resolved to take a house there if she could find whatshe wanted, and was very much pleased when she learned she could securean elegant furnished villa adjoining the duchess' summer home, and thither she rcpaired, as we have already stated, on the first of July. Hazel found herself very pleasantly located at “Crescent Villa,’’ 50 named from the natural forma tion of the surrounding grounds, which was caused by the symmetrical inland sweep of the sea. Bi that point.