Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

wondering if he had any special motive in making that reply. Did he imagine that she had not a clear conscience ? “Of course,” she assented, heartily; ‘and what is more sure to bring knighthood than the exer- cise of those very virtues? But come home with us to dinner, Dr. Morton, will you not?” she added, abruptly changing the subject. ‘Mamma and I have had a hard and rather disappointing day, and we both need cheerful company to help our digestion.” Mrs. Stewart joined them jst then, and heartily seconded her daughter's, invitation, but Percy ex- cused himself. “T must return to London this evening,” he in- formed them, “and IT have to see Miss Graham on soine business before I go.” Helena smiled maliciously. : Hitherto it had been *‘Hazel ;” now it was the more formal ‘Miss Graham,” and she was sure that her “pert shaft, regarding Lord Nelson's intentions, ad taken effect. : She might never win him herself, but she did not mean that the course of true love should run in oiled grooves for her hated rival if she could helpit. But she assumed an airof keen disappointment, as she replied: “Then we shall not see you again for the present. I hope, however, that we shall meet later, as we have decided to be in Londond during the winter. Do not forget us altogether, Dr. Morton, but come to see us oceasionally.” She held out her hand again to him, and allowed it to linger in his a moment; then the tw adies be their way toward Crescent Villa, one Acbmicbooks: com