Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

” HAWKSHAW HALL 333 stood forth from amidst the stately trees of an immense park, and Farmer Sladden informed his young companion that it was the Hall. He added that as far as the eye could sweep all around did Mr. Hawkshaw’s domain extend. In a few minutes the porter’s lodge at the entrance of the park was reached, the gates fiew open, and the gig fol- lowed Mr. Hawkshaw up a gradual ascent of gravel road to the entrance of the Hall. There Frank alighted, thanking Mr. Sladden for his courtesy, and the worthy farmer drove away. “ Now, my young friend,’’ said the squire, when he had conducted his guest into a spacious, lofty, and handsomely furnished apartment, ‘‘ tell me at once where your servant is to be found in Gainsborough, and one of my grooms shall go over and fetch him without delay. We will then have dinner, for I dare say you are hungry, and my appetite is marvellously keen. I am uncommon glad I was detained so long at Gainsborough, since it has afforded me this un- expected pleasure of meeting a second time with you.”’ Frank mentioned the hotel at Gainsborough where the servant would be found, and pulling out a well-filled purse, he begged that Mr. Hawkshaw’s groom would become the bearer of the requisite funds to settle the account at that hostelry. While in the gig, Frank had fastened his handsome watch-chain in the usual manner to one of the buttonholes of his waistcoat, and the sight of this appendage, together with the production of the amply furnished purse, made the squire wonder more and more what possible mystery there could be about his new friend, and why with such adequate means his apparel should be so wretchedly mean and shabby. The youth was, however, still too much abstracted to reflect that these circumstances must indeed appear strange to his host, and therefore he thought not of volunteering any explanation. Of course the squire spoke not a word calcu- lated to show that he sought one. The groom was despatched to Gainsborough, and imme- diately afterward dinner was served up. The repast was alike substantial and excellent; there were no other guests, but until the dessert was placed on the table, a couple of footmen, in handsome though somewhat old-fashioned liveries, remained in attendance. The discourse, therefore, which passed between Mr. Hawkshaw and young Paton CORVICLOOO® SS (F©)