Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

310 REYNOLDS’ WORKS said Lady Saxondale, “‘ to make you in return a certain communication, which indeed I am bound to make, now ‘that you will so soon become one of the family. You must have perceived that Lord Harold Staunton entertains a most affectionate regard toward me, and I do not know that there is any indiscretion in avowing that I reciprocate his love. He has offered me his hand. I have spoken to him most seriously on the subject. J have bade him remember that there is a considerable disparity in our years, and I have besought him to study his heart well ere receiving an affirma- tive answer from my lips. He has replied with all suitable frankness and candour. In a word, therefore, I propose to consult my own happiness by accompanying Lord Harold Staunton to the altar.”’ ‘“ T congratulate your ladyship,”’ answered Mr. Hawkshaw, ‘upon a prospect which, from all that you have said, is so well calculated to consolidate your happiness. From what I have seen of Lord Harold, I have every reason to admire and like him. But when once you have obtained the in- fluence of a wife over his lordship,’ added the squire, with a good-natured smile, ‘‘ I hope you will prevent him from mounting strange horses and taking daring leaps.” ‘Depend upon it, my dear Mr. Hawkshaw,’ answered Lady Saxondale, while a blush rose tc her cheeks, “‘ that I value his life too much to permit him to risk it again in so venturesome a manner.” The squire took leave of her ladyship, and then proceeded to bid farewell to Juliana also, for he had some important business to transact at Gainsborough that afternoon, and had ordered the groom at the castle to have his horse in readiness at three o’clock. It was now close upon that hour, and therefore the squire could no longer delay taking his departure. He found Juliana alone in the drawing-room, and when he had bade her a temporary farewell, — only until the morrow, — he inquired where Lord Harold was. She answered that she thought he had ascended to his own chamber. ‘“T will just seek him there, to shake him by the hand,” observed the good-hearted squire, ‘‘ for as we are both to enter the family soon,” he added, with a smile, ‘‘ we must maintain all friendly courtesies. Besides, under existing circumstances, it is but right I should acquaint him with Gomichbooks (E(0)