Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

CAROLINE WALTERS 201 nance to which she endeavoured to coax up smiles, “‘ I am calm now, I am indeed, and I will not cry any more.” “ There’s a good girl,’ exclaimed Mrs. Brace. “ All the tears in the world will not mend matters, and you will find Mrs. Lindley a very generous-hearted and amiable woman. Come, let me see a brighter smile still upon your sweet face, and we will then depart.’’ “TI feel quite happy now, dear madam; you have com- pletely reassured me,’ said Caroline; but a profound sigh convulsed her bosom at the same time that she uttered those words in which she herself so vainly endeavoured to believe. Mrs. Brace now made the young creature swallow a glass of wine, which imparted an immediate glow to her features and made her seem happy, though her heart was still agitated as the ocean after a storm. They then quitted the room together; and as they passed through the shop the young ladies engaged in that part of the establishment crowded around their companion to say farewell. Again the tears started into Caroline’s eyes; but her friends, who were well acquainted with the reason which necessitated her temporary absence, appeared quite astonished that she should be otherwise than delighted at the prospect of a life of ease, indoience, and comfort for a few months. Poor Miss Walters did not, however, survey the matter in the same light as those other young ladies who had already passed through the same experiences on which this orphan girl was now about to enter. At last Mrs. Brace and Caroline were seated in the hackney- coach, which immediately departed in the direction of Westminster Bridge, according to the instructions which the former hastily whispered to the driver. Throwing herself back in the vehicle, Mrs. Brace drew her cloak around her, for the evening was very cold. Poor Caroline’s teeth chattered, although the windows were both drawn up; but in her case the state of her feelings was of that nature which aggravated the chill without by means of the chill within, and it was the chill that lay at the heart’s core which was more icy than that of the wintry temperature. For, oh, bitter is the pang when all the streams of youth’s fond hopes are frozen at their source, when the fountains , CONNIECLOOOKS (S©)