Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

128 ALFRED DE ROSANN. ‘ You and this pretty damsel live alone together?:”’ observed Belle-Rose carelessly. | “OQ no!—her father, who is my son, resides with us. He labours in the fields to obtain the scanty means that support his daughter and his aged mother.’’ “Ah! he is a dutiful son, then,”’? continued Belle- Rose, affecting an interest in the domestic matters of the poor family—an interest which he did not feel. “ And his wife °’’? added he coolly. ‘“ Alas! she is no more,”’ returned the old woman solemnly, while Jeannette wiped away the tears from her eyes, and stifled a convulsive sob. ‘‘ Behold the secret of that sensitive child’s me- lancholy,’’ said De Rosann within himself: “she has not yet forgotten the delights of maternal affec- tion.”’ Belle-Rose saw that he had touched upon a tender cord, and hastened to turn the conyernating. ‘“I am sure, my good woman,” said he, addressing the oid crone in a complimentary style, “1 am sure I hardly know how-to thank you sufficiently for the hospitable entertainment we have received: be as- sured, however, that neither I nor my companion will readily forget it.” “] would that my poor cabin had better fare to offer you,’ answered the grandmother, “ but such as it is, you are most welcome.’’ “ Oh !” exclaimed Belle-Rose with his usual non- chalance, * we are old soldiers, and are accustomed to hardships of every kind.” ‘Soldiers! are you soldiers ?’’ cried Jeannette, a transient delight beaming in her blue eyes ; then, fearful that her sudden vivacity might displease, she hung down her head and blushed deeply. ““ Yes, my pretty child, we are soldiers,’’ returned Belle-Rose without the slightestembarrassment; “and have just returned from the wars.”’ moni “I thought France was at peace,’ said the old woman. : COMMICLOOOKSa(EO)