Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALL 347 or sofas—elegantly apparelled ladies and _ well-dressed eentlemen were seated. Here and there small groups were standing to converse; and in other parts ladies were sitting, while gathered around them was a knot of young gentlemen standing in that gracefully lounging attitude which is so often seen. The immense apartment was flooded with the light poured forth by three superb lustres, and which was reflected in the magnificent mirrors, as well as by the dia- monds and the costly ornaments worn by the guests. Among the female portion thereof there was no insignificant dis- play of beauty, and bright eyes, as well as mirrors and gems, shone brighter in the powerful effulgence streaming from the lustres. | Mr. Hawkshaw, with Frank on his arm, strolled through the saloon, nodding familiarly to those with whom he was most intimate, bowing more formally to those with whom he was less acquainted, and also looking around to see if a certain lady guest had yet arrived. Need we say that the object of his eyes’ research was Juliana Farefield? And thus was it that, without having the most distant suspicion of the fact, he and his young friend were both alike on the lookout for one and the same being. She was not however there, and having reached the extremity of the room, the squire and Frank sat down, while a footman hastened to serve them with coffee. As Mr. Hawkshaw had foreseen, Frank’s appearance at once created much curiosity and interest. All eyes had followed him as he walked through the apartment, leaning on the squire’s arm. The exquisite beauty of his counte- nance, his symmetrical and graceful figure, the aristocratic polish which appeared to invest him as naturally as if he had passed all his life in patrician halls, attracted the notice of every one present, and made him the “‘ observed of all observers.” Who was he, this interesting young stranger? Such appeared to be the general question, whispered in some parts of the room, asked by means of a rapid exchange of glances in others. The squire and Frank did not remain long alone where they had seated themselves; some of the principal male guests approached to shake hands with their friend Hawkshaw, and they were of course introduced to Mr. Paton. A little knot was soon collected there, and the youth became engaged in discourse with his new acquaint- ECORVICLO@QC) cS (FO)