Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

a ee eee er a ate 8 bit ness, “But you forget, Harwood, that l am only a oor doctor, struggling up the ladder of fame, and t would be the height of folly in me to presume to do more than ndmire the gifted heiress from a distance,” “Pshaw! you underrate yourself; nnd, if Tam not mistaken, Miss Stewart would not chide you for any presumption of that sort. The richest and most gifted woman in the world might feel honored to secure you for her husband.” “IT might suspect you of the rankest flattery if L did not Inow you so well,” Percy said. siniling; “but thera are few people living who would tuke such & viow of what limited good qualities I may possess, But have you no fear of Lord Hartwell as a rival? He, too, seams very much attracted by the lady whom you profess to alore.” Peroy tried to spenk naturally, but his throat was dry and parched, and his temples were throbbing painfully. Young Harwood’s face clouded. “That is 50,” he said. “Still, I have not feared him as much as I have you, if the truth were known, be- cause I do not believe he has the slightest intention of offering marriage to Miss Gay.” “What! Percy turned upon the astonished young man, fury blazing in his eyes. “Good gracious, Morton! how you do fire ata fellow! One would almost think that you were Hazel Gay's guardian, to be so upset about it; but, you see, those Hartwells are a proud race, Her grace, the duchess, ia one of the most intensely aristocratic women in England, in spite of her goodness, and I do not believe she would ever consent to have her grandson make a mesalliance. Besides, it is my private opinion that she has her eye upon the Stewart millions,” This was Percy’s opinion algo, although he did not believe that Lord Nelson was in sympathy with any such plan. He was fally convinced that the yonng lord was deeply and honestly in love with Hazel; ut Harwood’s hint that he might be amusing him- self at the beautiful girl's expense, had set all bis blood boiling. | “ Fell he felt ie aor ae circumstances, he was betraying more feeling an was wise:.s8 - marked, with’ assumed ‘Compousure : rind oll adh