Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

not know whut Marie and my mother will think has become of ine. [allowed Marie to come to Brighton with me on a little visit to Belle. I must return to the hotel at once.” “Indeed, no!” interposed the duchess, in a tone of remonstrance. ‘I will send for Mrs. Gerard and Marie, instead. I cannot spare you tins Snags insist a you all being my guests for as long as you will.” Hazel turned pleading eyes upon her mother. “Do, mamma, please,” she said. ‘I cannot bear to let you go even for a few hours ; while, if I should go with you, Percy would think I was anxious to ran away from him.” Mrs. Earlescourt was persuaded to remain, and a er was at once dispatched for Mrs. Gerard and arie. It soon returned, bringing Mrs. Gerard, but Marie. had gone out for a ramble with Belle, and word had been left with Mrs. Stewart to have her join her mother at the house of the duchess upon her return. It was avery happy party that sat down to lunch in her grace’s dining-room, and everybody, save Percy, who looked a trifle grave and thoughtful, | seemed to have cast all care to the winds for the time being. Hazel was her bright, merry self once yore, and it was a perfect delight simply to watch her joyous, smiling tace, and to listen to her spark- ling conversation and rippling laughter When lunch was over, Mrs, Earlescourt sought Doctor Morton, to learn from him more of her dangh- ter’s childhood. Lord Nelson coaxed Hazel out upon the veranda, ‘to see a steamer that was just poiitaer in,” while the duchess and Mrs. Gerard settled them- selves comfortably in the drawing-room for a social chat over the wonderful revelations of the morning. (TO BK CONTINUED). ulsoel so