The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

THE LADY AND THE PAGE 323 She was a fine tall girl, and looked indeed like a young woman. She had not previously been informed of Mrs. _ Burnaby’s death, and when she now learned it, she was much afflicted.”’ “Had your sister hitherto believed that the good old lady was a near relative?’ inquired Juliana. “Yes,” returned Francis, “‘ and she was much amazed when I told her what the servant-woman had said to me upon the subject. At that school my sister remained for four years longer, and therefore till she was twenty; but during the latter portion of the time she was there as a teacher or assistant, for which she was paid a regular salary. At the expiration of that period she was told by the school- mistress that a situation had been found for her as governess in a family about to visit the Continent, and with many tears were we thus compelled to separate. I remained at the academy until I was sixteen, passing all the holidays there, and never being visited by a single soul in the shape of relation or friend. So I suppose that I had no relatives save my sister, and no friends in the world.” “Poor Frank!’’? murmured Juliana, as the youth’s voice sounded low and plaintive to her ears. ‘* But were you well treated during the time? ”’ “ With that negative sort of kindness which is no kindness at all,’ he answered. ‘“‘ That is to say, I was not ill-treated. I had enough to eat and drink, and an allowance of pocket- money. I was also well clothed, and thus far wanted for nothing. But no kind word was ever spoken to me, no endeavour was made to solace my young heart in the dreary monotony of the life which I led. Well, the eight years passed away, and when I reached the age of sixteen, I was one morning told by the schoolmaster that I was no longer to remain under his care, but was to proceed to London. I asked him what were the future intentions of those invisible persons who appeared to have the control of my destiny, but he was either really ignorant upon the subject, or else had his own private motives for refusing to give me any information thereon. He wrote upon a piece of paper the name of a hotel where I was to stop on my arrival in London, and giving me money for my journey, he bade me fare- well. : ‘It was eight o’clock in the evening when I reached the GoOmilGcoooks (C(O)