Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

and informed her that he was going away for a time. | Sir Henry Harwood was about to return to London, | and as his duties there were not yet very heavy, he wanted Percy to visit Paris and its wonderful hos- pitals before beginning the real business of life for the winter. This the young doctor considered a golden opportu- nity, and one not to be neglected, the only drawback being the separation from Hazel, who every day was becoming dearer to him and more necessary to his happiness. As he was passing out, after taking leave of her, he encountered Helena upon the veranda, and informed her also of his intended absence. Helena’s face fell, and she grew very pale, a cir- cumstance which Perey could not fail to notice. “We shall miss you sadly, Dr. Morton,” she said, avery perceptible tremor in her voice, “while you will miss the duchess' grand reception, which is to occur a couple of weeks hence. I wish you were go- ing to be here to attend it.” “It will be a very fine affair, I have no doubt,” Perey observed, smiling; ‘but, among so many notables who will be present, the absence of s0 humble @ character as myself will hardly be re- marked.” ; “You underrate yourself.” Helena returned, turn- ing a wistful look upon him; ‘‘you are of far more importance than you pretend to imagine. fT, for one, regret your departure more than I can ex- press.” comiichooks.com