The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

THE VISITOR 261 plan, under present circumstances, was to say nothing more upon the subject. Not that she was above repeating her prayer for forgiveness at her daughter’s hand, but because she fancied that the less that was said upon the matter the sooner the impression of it would wear away from the young eirl’s mind. Besides, if any portion of the promises at which their late visitor had hinted should receive fulfilment, Mrs. Leyden cheered herself with the hope that in the joyous excitement produced by a change of circumstances Henrietta would very speedily forget the little incident which was now occupying her thoughts. Nor did Mrs. Leyden fail to perceive something that might even be termed satisfactory in the way that Henrietta had taken the thing to heart, for did it not prove that the young maiden was delicately sensi- tive in respect to her virtue, and that the least breath of suspicion tarnishing the fair mirror of her reputation was esteemed by her as a misfortune not to be borne? A more comfortable meal than for many a long day had been partaken of by this family was presently meved up by Henrietta’s own hands; and when she saw how her little brother enjoyed himself, ie how her mother’s spirits were rallying under the genial influences of hope, the poor girl’s countenance again brightened up, and she appeared to forget the occurrence which had been troubling her. Searcely was the meal over when heavy footsteps were heard ascending the stairs; then there was a loud knock at the chamber door, and on little Charley, who was now all life and spirits, rushing forward to answer the summons, a man in the garb of a hotel porter made his appearance laden with packages. The instant Henrietta’s eyes embraced those packages at a glance, she recognized the numerous parcels which from time to time, and with almost a breaking heart, she had borne to the pawnbroker’s; and if on those occasions she had wept bitter tears of hopelessness and despair, she now burst into tears again, but with joy and eratitude and gladness. | “A gentleman has sent me up with all these things,” observed the porter, who was a good-tempered fellow him- self and had -not failed to comprehend that he had been made, though humbly and partially, the instrument of a good action. “ Well, miss, you had better cry for joy than for sorrow,” he went on to say. ‘“‘ But the old gentleman CONNIE DOOKS (FO)