The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 277: what you’re looking at

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260 REYNOLDS’ WORKS visitor’s countenance, in order to glean from its expression whether she dared anticipate that such a change could be effected on her mother’s behalf as the one he had alluded to. “ Well,” he said, with looks that were inscrutable, ‘‘ we must see what is to be done. I think that you are a very good girl, Miss Henrietta, for the moment you got money, you did not go and dress yourself out in finery, as most young persons of your age would have done, and besides, you thought of your mother and‘brother first. I am very well pleased at that. As for the fifteen shillings you spent in em- bellishing this little fellow here, I can’t find it in my heart to blame you for the outlay, although 1t was rather extrava- gant. He is a sweet boy, and it’s natural to wish to see him look well. I do not mean to say any more at present, but it’s very likely you will hear from me again.”’ When the eccentric visitor had taken his leave, little Charley caught hold of his sister’s hand, saying, “ I don’t like that old gentleman, he seems so cross and ill-tempered, and he made you cry once.” “Yes, my dear Charley, but you must like him, though,”’ returned Henrietta, ‘“ for he is no doubt a very good man. Oh, my dear mother,” exclaimed the young girl, turning toward her parent, “is there not now some beam of hope for ust? ‘“T think so. Pray God that it is so!’’ answered Mrs. Leyden. Henrietta now hastened to prepare some good and nutri- tious food for her invalid mother, but while she was so doing she experienced a gradual return of that feeling of sadness which had arisen from the distressing scene of the previous night. The thought that she had been suspected by her mother rankled in the poor girl’s heart, — not with any sentiment of bitterness against that parent, whom she forgave from the bottom of her soul, but with a deep sorrow to think that her own conduct had not been sufficient in all its purity to guarantee her against such an injurious suspicion. Mrs. Leyden, who watched her attentively during her present occupation, observed the natural pensiveness of her countenance gradually deepening into mourntulness, and she divined the cause. But she thought that the best CONNIE OO KS (E(0)