Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

PAULINE 173 live close by. Octavia accordingly aided her to reach her home; and the lady besought her to remain with her for a few hours. This request was granted; and it was past eleven when my sister returned home. ‘This evening she thought it would be but courteous and humane to call and inquire after the patient; and as the old lady dwells entirely alone, Octavia foresaw that she would ask her to pass 4 little time with her. She, however, promised to come back by eleven at the latest; and now,’ added Pauline, glancing uneasily at the watch which Mrs. Smith had given her, ‘it is a quarter after twelve.” ‘“My dearest Miss Clarendon,’’ said Florimel, ‘‘ there is nothing in your sister’s prolonged absence to make you uneasy. I can readily understand the cause of it. The elderly lady is all alone, you tell me, and she is perhaps worse. Your sister, who is no doubt as kind-hearted as yourself, will not abandon the sufferer in such cruel circum- stances; and she very naturally concludes that you will not fail to conjecture the reason of her absence.”’ “Oh, thank you for thus suggesting an explanation,” cried Pauline, her countenance brightening up. “ Yes, it must be as you suppose. At all events, I will not compel you to sit up any longer on my account.” ‘“ And as your sister is not here,’’ said Florimel, with a palpitating heart, “ there is no necessity for us to separate even though we retire to rest.” “Ti you do not object to take Octavia’s place by my side,’ responded Pauline, with artless cheerfulness, “1 shall be delighted to have you as a companion.”’ With these words, the ingenuous and _ unsuspecting maiden secured the front door and led the way to her bed- chamber. ) Gomicdooks (E(0)