Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

280 REYNOLDS’ WORKS my young friend, and I honour you for it. But it suits my purpose and my intentions to give you this income. I will tell you why. Florina has certain claims upon me, and it is to her that I make this bequest. But as I cannot endure the idea of a husband being dependent on his wife, I choose to settle the money upon you instead of upon herself. Why, my dear boy, if you mean to marry a young lady of her rank, you must have a suitable income, and as for your toiling to earn a livelihood, it must not be thought of. You shall - pursue your studies by way of amusement, and that is all. Now, don’t interrupt me, I am doing everything for the best, and perhaps I shall tell you something presently which will show you that Florina has a perfect right to expect all gg at my hands.’’ “My dear sir, I am at @ loss for words,” said William, profoundly iferted: yet still loth to give an assent to the pecuniary arrangements proposed, ‘‘I know not how to express myself — ”’ ‘But I can understand all that you would say,” inter- rupted his good old friend. ‘‘ And now, Angela,’’ he con- tinued, turning toward the young lady, adown whose cheeks the tears of mingled joy and gratitude were trickling; for great indeed was that joy, and fervid also was that gratitude which she experienced toward the noble-hearted philan- thropist who was displaying such splendid munificence toward her brother, ‘‘ now, dear Angela,” he said, ‘‘ one word relative to yourself. Your engagement at the opera was for one season, and that season is over. I dare say you have already had an offer from the manager to renew it for the following season, and doubtless plenty of offers from direc. - tors of the Continent operas. But you will refuse each and all. At the same time you are not to be dependent upon your brother, although I know full well that everything he possesses ig yours, and everything you possess is recipro- cally his. But he and Florina must have their income to themselves, and you shall have yours. So you will permit me to settle upon you five hundred a year — ” ‘“ Mr. Gunthorpe,” interrupted the young lady, “so much bounty on your part — ”’ “ Do not say a word,” he cried. ‘‘ I am rich, — this you knew all along, but I am far richer than you ever imagined. Had not my own circumstances altered in another sense — Gomicbooks