Beadle's Dime Novels No. 14 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

22 . THE “EMERALD NECKLACE. I care for that? Must I be admired in order to be happy? Have I not my books and music, and my garden, and my dear father and mother? I wonder why it seems so lonely living in the country—it never did before.” Resolved not to feel lonely, she tied on her straw hat and went down to the yard, forcing himself to sing a gay ballad— “ Comin’ through the rye.” When she came to the words, “Tika lassie has -her laddie— Nane, they say, hae I,” she broke down, and went on getting her flowers in silence. This silence was presently disturbed by the raising of the gate latch. She looked up and saw their guest returning up the walk, pale and limping, leaning upon a stick which he had picked up, As she hastened to him,-her ingenuous face spoke eloquently of the fear and interest she felt. “ Are you hurt ?” “T sprained my ankle in jumping over a fence. It was ‘very careless of me. I have dragged myself back for half a mile, and must wait, I think, until some wagon passes which is going to my destination. <A foolish accident aA he said, forcing a smile, though he evidently suffered. “T am so sorry,” murmured Clematis. “Take my arm, do, until we get in the house. or Jean on my shoulder. Mother will bind it up for you—she is very skillful.” “ You speak like Jane Eyre,” remarked Pennon, in & pecu- liar tone, as he accepted her offer. “Oh, yes, I remember! And you are Rochester. I did not think of that when I spoke. But you have a good pre- cedent in accidents. ; .“It does not ease the pain any, though, to remember that others have suffered. However, this isa mere nothing. It does not hurt so much now.” Was it because he was clinging to the slender support so sympathetically offered him? They reached the house, and Mrs. Percy’s skill was put to the test. . “Tt feels so nicely. Thank you a thousand times,” he said, after she had bathed and bandaged it, and he was extended upon the sofa in the parlor in an easy position. “No; I shall not hail any wagon,” returned Mrs. Percy, in answer to something he had said. “ You are a little feverish comicliooolks.com