Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

62 REYNOLDS’ WORKS interrogate you. You, Francis Paton, have been a page at Lady Saxondale’s, have you not?” ‘““T have, sir, and likewise at court,’ responded the youth. | “ At court?” ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpe. ‘“ Ah, indeed? And pray by whose interest did you obtain that post? ”’ Frank glanced at his sister to ascertain from her looks what reply he should make, and she at once said for him, “There is every reason to believe, Mr. Gunthorpe, that it was through Lord Petersfield’s interest my brother obtained his appointment in the royal household, but it is absolutely certain that through that nobleman’s recommendation he was introduced into the service of Lady Saxondale.”’ ‘Lord Petersfield, eh? ” said Mr. Gunthorpe, in a musing tone. ‘“ But lL suppose you have some prospects, — money to receive, or something of that sort, — have you not, Frank? ”’ “Nothing, that | am aware of,’’ was the youth’s reply, and now both he and his sister surveyed Mr. Gunthorpe with a feeling of increasing interest, for they could not think that these questions were put without some serious motive. “Nothing, eh?” he said, with a peculiar and incompre- hensible look. “ But you, Elizabeth— You see that I - make myself quite at home with you, calling you by your Christian names — However, you must at once regard me as your friend, from all that Henrietta has told me I wish you to look upon me as such, But I was about to ask some ques- tion: it was addressed to you, Elizabeth. I suppose you have received a fortune, eh? Come, tell me all about it now?” Lady Bess blushed deeply, and, turning away in confusion, evidently knew not what answer to make. ‘“ Elizabeth,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, starting from his chair and taking her hand, ‘‘ look me in the face, and tell me that as a woman you have never done anes which has conjured up that blush to your cheeks.” “On my soul, Mr. Gunthorpe,’’ replied Lady Bess, at once speaking ith the dignity of maiden purity and femi- nine virtue in its most real and best sense, ‘‘ as a woman I have never done aught for which I need blush.” Mr. Gunthorpe wrung her hand with effusion, and both she and her brothcr wz surprised to observe the tears Gomilechbooks (E(0)