Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

358 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘Ah! then he is not now? Does he consider himself fortunate in his escape?’ and it was with a palpitating heart but with unmoved countenance that Juliana asked the question. ‘Well, I think he has good reason to believe himself so. But pray don’t mention a word of all this to your mother or any one else.”’ | “Not for the world!” rejoined Juliana. ‘ Pray goon. I see that there 1s something very romantic and interesting about this youth, — all the more interesting too, my dear George,’ she added, with witching cajolery, “ since you yourself have formed a friendship for him.” ‘ The fact is,’ proceeded Hawkshaw, “ he was in love with some lady whose name he very discreetly suppressed, and of course I did not question him upon the subject.” “A lady in this neighbourhood? ” ‘Properly belonging to London, but staying at Gains- borough just for the present. My young friend’s fortunes have recently changed, so he came to put her to the test, dressing himself out in the shabbiest and meanest style.”’ , ‘Oh, what a device! ’’ observed Juliana, and she affected to titter gaily, while inwardly she was racked with the bitter- est feelings. ‘“‘ And what was the result? ” ‘“Unpropitious to my young friend’s view. But where is he?” suddenly exclaimed Hawkshaw. “I left him with Mr. Denison at the other end of the room. Pray excuse me for a minute, I must not leave him alone, as he is a perfect stranger here. He will feel awkward and embarrassed in the midst of a crowd of persons unknown to him. And mind, dear Juliana, not a syllable to your mother of all I have been telling you.” : “Oh, fear not, dear George. You know you can trust me.” Mr. Hawkshaw flung upon her a look full of tenderness, and then rising from the seat where he had been carrying on this whispered discourse with Juliana, — while her mother and Mrs. Denison were conversing together on their side, — the squire proceeded toward the ballroom. At that instant Mr. Denison and young Paton were returning into the saloon, and they accordingly encountered the squire on the thresh- old between the two apartments. ‘“T shall leave you, Mr. Paton, with your friend Mr. Hawk- Gomichboo cS (E(0)