Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXIV. HAZEL’S INTERVIEW WITH HER MOTHER. “My precious child! ‘can it be possible that God has given you back to me?” Mrs. Earlescourt said, when she could master her emotion sufficiently to speak. “T have believed you lying in the depths of the ovean all these long years. I can understand, now, some- thing of what the widow of Nain must have felt when Jesus raised her son to life; my heart is full of reverent gratitude and joy.” Hazel nestled closer to that fondly beating heart. “How I have wanted yon all my life, my mother,’ she sobbed, clinging to her, while tears of happiness rained over her face. “I have never known a wother’s care or love, and my heart has hungered and thirsted for you. Sometimes I have rebelled at being denied all womanly guidance and counsel, all motherly caresses, affection, and sympathy.” “Poor darling! how hard it has been for you!” said Mrs. Earlescourt, tenderly; “but we are united at last. How thankful I ani!—how wonderful it all seems! Iwas atrangely attracted toward you the first time that we mét at Mrs. Harwood’s. Do you remember that evening ?”’ “Yes, indeed,” Hazelreturned; “and when you laid your hand so kindly on wy shoulder I longed to put my arm around you and kiss vou.” “Did you, dear?’ and the happy mother drew her closer to her bosom. ‘There was something familiar about you even then that thrilled my heart,” she went on. “I know now what it was, you have your father’s brow and eyes, and for a long time your face haunted me continually.” | ‘How thankful I am for the events of this day,’ Hazel exclaimed, clasping her nanag "eee SR ep