Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

. Perey looked surprised at the earnestness of her tone, and merely returned a courteous, ‘**Thank you,” Then as Lord Nelson was seen approching from a distance, he added, lighty: “There comes @ devoted cavalier, however, who. doubtless, will make you forget the absence of all other friends,”’ He had a purposein making the remark, for he was very anxious to know whether there was anything in certain rumors which were flying about. if there was any understanding between those two, the cer- tain knowledge of it would set his anxious heart at rest, for it would tell him that Hazel was tree, and in that case he had resolved to do his utmost to win her upon his return from Paris. Helena flushed hotly, and shot a quick, reproachful glance at him. ‘You mistake.” she said, in a low voice, ‘‘Lord Nel- son is nothing to me, more than a valued friend.” “T beg your pardon, if I have presumed tov far, but surely you are aware that Dame Rumor has assigned the strawberry leaves of the house of Jersey, to one of America’s fairest daughters,” Percy said, with the utmost respect, but watching her coming and going color with intense interest. Heleua’s heart bounded with a blissful hope. Was he taking this way to discover whether she was still free?—was he about to contess his own affection for. her, and lay his grand heart at her feet? | “T know,” she returned, with crimson cheeks, ‘but, . for once, reportis atfauit. I could not marry Lord Nelson Hartwell.” | ae would Neat poe oe ape? for any one, and | ord Hartwell is a noble young an ere answered, with a sinking heart, for if Panini boatrcorn|