Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

314 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘““ had I expressed my heartfelt thanks first to you, my young © friend, before I inquired for my horse,’ and as he thus spoke, Mr. Hawkshaw took the youth’s hand and shook it warmly. ‘Yes, [ am indeed most grateful; you have evidently done me no small service. Why, one might have died if left to one’s self in such a state, or been kicked to death by those half-wild horses there, that are scampering about and which, by the bye, were the cause of the accident. But we must know more of each other,” continued the squire, and now that he surveyed the youth more attentively, he observed that he was poorly and indeed shabbily dressed, although his linen was scrupulously clean, and everything about him denoted as much neatness as the threadbare garments would allow their wearer to display. “JT thank you, sir, for your kindness,’ answered the youth; “but I am a stranger in these parts, — my stay here will not be long — ”’ “Wait a moment,’’ cried Mr. Hawkshaw, and hastily opening the gate — for he felt but little inconvenience now from his accident — he fetched his horse from where it was browsing on the grass, and led the animal through the gate, which the youth civilly held open for the purpose. “Now, my young friend,’ continued Mr. Hawkshaw, ‘“T repeat that we cannot part in this manner. In the first place, let me announce myself. Here is my card; my resi- dence is a few miles distant in that direction. How long are you staying in these parts? Where are you at present residing? And will you shift your quarters to the hall? You shall be as welcome there as if we had known each other for aS many years as we have minutes.” ‘“ Again do I thank you most sincerely for your kindness,’ responded the youth, ‘‘ but I cannot avail myself of it. It were, however, churlish and rude not to say that on some future occasion, should I revisit Lincolnshire, I shall assuredly do myself the pleasure of calling at Hawkshaw Hall.” ‘Well, I take that as a promise,” exclaimed the kind- hearted, hospitable squire. ‘‘ But remember, it must be as faithfully kept as my invitation is sincerely given. And now tell me whose acquaintance it is I have had the pleasure of forming? ”’ | ‘“T have no card with me,” replied the youth, “ but my name is Paton.’’ EGomicbooks. co