At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRI’S MEROY. . 135 but there came a sudden mist before her eyes, and she could not meet the kindly eyes above her, She leaned her head against the friendly knee, and they were silent for a few minutes. The hand of the squire was gentle if it was rough, and it was with unutterable tenderness he stroked the curly head that might not for many a day rest against his knee, as now it was doing, and his eyes, too, were rather dim, the girl not knowing, her own eyes hid- den. Then he said, gently: ‘“When do you wish to go, Nan? I must prepare your mother, you know, dear, and you must give her time to become accustomed to the thought of not having our little girl around the house at our call, and to keep the sunshine going.”’ “YT will not go until you say I may, papa,’’ Nan said, softly. ‘“‘You are good to let me go, anyway, papa dearest, and I will wait your own pleasure about going. Only,’’ there was a wistfulness about the tender voice that made the man’s heart ache with sudden pity, ‘‘don’t let it be too far away.”’ “You shall go next week if you wish,’’ he said, gravely, no hesitation in his voice. He could not restrict the desires of this poor little sore hearted daughter of his, for in spite of Nan’s bravery and effort to hide her heart, her father knew full well the wound that lay open to the least touch beneath the cloak of her pride. And the next instant she was weeping her heart out in his arms. CHAPTER XIV. AND THEN CUT DEEPER. “She may be more ready with her reply. She would not wish me to think she cared for him, and ecomicbooks.com. :