Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 399: what you’re looking at

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

382 REYNOLDS’ WORKS suddenly died within her, and she could scarcely doubt any longer that Frank had really left Lincolnshire. “Yes, he was anxious to get back to his parents. And natural enough, as he has only so recently discovered them. By the bye, dear Juliana, you have not told me yet what you think of him? Is he not a very nice young man? ”’ , “Oh, he is a mere boy, — almost a child.” ‘ Well, call him a boy, if you like,’”’ responded the squire, laughing. ‘“‘ Do you consider him a nice boy? ”’ “My acquaintance with him was so short; I merely danced with him twice, you know.” ‘True! But one soons forms an opinion of persons. For — my part, I lke him exceedingly. He is an amiable and geenerous-hearted youth, — much inexperienced in the world, however.” ‘“ Necessarily so,” observed Juliana, “ because he is so young.”’ ‘“ Last evening we dined at the Denisons’.”’ “Ah! and Mr. Paton was with you, then? I am sure that if he had remained any longer in Lincolnshire, my mother would have been delighted to have shown him every attention as a friend of yours, because you know, my dear George, that every friend of yours will always be welcome at Saxondale Castle.”’ “Thank you for this assurance, my dear Juliana. And now,” continued the squire, assuming a more serious tone, ‘JT am going to ask you a very singular question, but I will soon explain my motive.’’ ‘Indeed! a singular question? ” and a queer feeling that bordered upon alarm, though she scarcely knew why, flitted across her brain, so true is it that a guilty conscience is ever a fertile source of apprehension. “Yes, it may seem singular, but I hope not impertinent,” and the squire appeared to hesitate. ‘* How strangely you are talking, George!’ cried Juliana, fixing upon him a keen, penetrating look, but she read nothing in the honest, open-hearted countenance of Mr. Hawkshaw to warrant her apprehensions. “ Well, then,’ he continued, ‘‘ I will come to the point. Are you aware, Juliana, whether the day for her ladyship’s nuptials with Lord Harold Staunton is fixed? Or what ar- (E(0) Gomicbooks