Alfred de Rosann — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

64 ALFRED DE ROSANN. “ Not for worlds, Miss: Robson, if you be ill—and you really do nof look well,’? exclaimed De Rosann, gazing fora moment intently yet not rudely—because his glances betokened interest, and no gross passion ——on the countenance of Selina. She was pale, and a tear glistened in her eye: De Rosann thought she had never appeared so_ beautiful before. The fact was, that he had not till then thought of examining her features with attention. Her hair was brown——-her eyes were hazel——her mouth small —and her facial line was cast in a Grecian mould. Her figure slender and well-formed; she had scarcely seen two-and-twenty summers—but her mind was even more accomplished and attractive than her person. ‘¢ And wherefore are you in such haste to leave us?”’ inquired Selina, after another pause, during which she endeavoured to compose herself so as once more to touch upon a subject that gave her pain. “ Urgent business, Miss Robson—”’ } “Q it is always urgent business, or unexpected letters, that serve now-a-days for excuses,”’ interrupt- ed Selina, with something bitter in the emphasis she laid upon her words, although a faint smile played upon her lips.. ‘‘ One no sooner becomes acquainted with people, than they run away.”’ ‘Perhaps they occasionally do well,’? said De Rosann, “to leave in time, ere the good impression they have created be obliterated or deadened by the faults a longer intercourse with them would expose to view.”’ “You either wish me to pay you a compliment, or=—’7 “¢ Or what?”’ “Or to tell you to stay, at the risk of developing the dark side, as well as the bright side of your character.”’ ‘‘Could you think me capable of such inordinate vanity, Miss Robson?” cried Alfred, as he inadvert- ently laid his hand upon her own. The touch was as Gomichbooks.Gcom