Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

Hazel, wou by her sweetness, related all that we already know. ‘‘Do you think I will have to lose my necklace, your grace?’ she asked, when she had told her all, and looking fearlessly into the woman's grave, earnest eyes, ‘It is not alone for the valne of it that I care so much,” she added, thoughtfully, ‘but because it belonged to my mother, and is the only link that binds me to my past, and will help to prove my identity. Do you think the court will give if to Mrs. Stewart?’ she concluded, anxiously. The duchess did not know how to answer her. She had come to her, pitying her, but firmly be- lieving in her guilt, and now she was staggered by these innocent questions, by the frank, clear, blue eyes that gazed s0 earnestly into hers, and by her tree, Unembarrassed manner. “We must wait and see, dear,’ was all that she could say in reply to her queries. ‘‘I feel very sure, however, that Mrs. Stewart would not wish to keep it if she thoughtit did not rightfully belong to her.” “No, of course not,” Hazel returned, with a sigh, “but it is exactly like hers and neither of them was marked, 80 I do not see how it can ever be proved that it.ia mine. I shull be very, very unhappy to lose it; hut the worst of al will be to haye every- hody believe that I have been dishonest.” “She jis either innocent a8 a little child, or she is the most hardened and consummate actress,” thought the duchegs ag she studied the sweet, tearstained face beside her. ‘‘You say that you had it in your hands looking at it when Helena cameé up stéirs to get her sister’s wrap?” she remarked, thoughtfully. "Yes, your grace, and f hastily slipped it back into ny trunk before unlocking my door, because T did not wish her, or any one, to know that I had it.” “Why were you so anxious to concert ahabocteeaon the duchess asked, rewarding her curiously,