Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHAPEL 19 ment since the accident of the morning, he might possibly require some now. She accordingly intimated her intention of ascending to his chamber to make the inquiry. ‘“T will accompany you, Flo,’’ said her ladyship, display- ing all the concern of a generous hostess with regard to an invalid guest. The two ladies thereupon quitted the room, and ascended to Lord Harold’s chamber. On reaching the door, Lady Saxondale said, in a whispering voice, “‘ If he sleeps, Flo, it will be a pity to disturb him. Let us enter very carefully indeed.”’ Lady Saxondale accordingly opened the door with the utmost caution, and listened upon the threshold. The wax lights were burning upon the mantel, and her ladyship, motioning with her hand for Florina to remain where she was, advanced on tiptoe toward + the couch; then having peeped between the curtains, she retreated in the same noiseless manner toward Florina, to whom she whispered, ‘“ He is sleeping soundly.”’ The young lady was pleased by this announcement, be- cause the circumstance appeared to indicate an absence of pain on her brother’s part, and therefore that he had in reality received no serious injury. Lady Saxondale closed. the door again with the same caution she had displayed on opening it, and, accompanied by Florina, she retraced her way to the apartment where the supper was served up. “ What news? ” inquired Mr. Hawkshaw, who throughout had shown the most generous interest on Lord Harold’s behalf. “Our patient is sleeping soundly, dale, with an air of great satisfaction. “So much the better,’ observed Mr. Hawkshaw. ‘‘ You may depend upon it that in a day or two he will be all right again. If he suffered much pain he would not be sleeping in that manner.”’ Florina was well pleased to hear an opinion which thus confirmed her own hope, and she felt somewhat more cheer- ful. It was nearly eleven o’clock before Mr. Hawkshaw took his departure, and ere he withdrew, he asked Lady Saxondale to be allowed to ride over in the morning and make personal inquiries relative to the invalid. This per- ) replied Lady Saxon- EORMNICLOCC) “S$ (E(0)