Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

mother in a transport of joy. *I believe I could even have gone cheerfully into a dismal prison for the joy of this moment.” . Mrs. Earlescourt's face clouded. “Ah! what a sad time you have had, my darling,” she said, ‘‘and to think that but for the account that was published in last evening's papers I might not have found you even now. My husband was obliged toleave home yesterday, and I was very lonely dur- ing theevening, I took up the paper from which he generally reads to me items, such as he thinks will interest me, and the first thing my eyes rested upon, was a report of your case with a brief history of your rescue from that sinking vessel and your subsequent life. Then I knew that you were my child; I knew that the contested necklace was nine, and that your father, in his despair, had fastened it about your neck, when he made that frantic effort to save you. for me, hoping that by it you would be identified. You can imagine something of my feelings as I realized your trouble and thought of your friendless condition, while, not knowing anything of the kind- ness of the duchess, [imagined you alone and heart- broken in a gloomy prison. I could scarcely wait until morning dawned to come to you, and I did not close my eyes in sleep during the night from grief on your account. I said nothing of wy discovery to any one, save ny mother—your grandmother, dear, who always worshiped ‘our dear Florence’ as she has always called you, and who I knew would also be able to identify the necklace if necessary—and come with all speed to your relief this morning.”’ “But for you I should have been condemned,” Hazel murmured, shuddering. “How strange it is that I never discovered the secret of that ieb8 iene I have examined every link of the neCHisceo many