At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

4 AT A GIRL’S MERCY. of justice would do the same. But, then, papa, per- haps we should give him special credit, it is so against his nature.”’ “Well, well,’’ the squire said, ‘‘Nan, we may be hard on Blake after all. We will accept his arrange- ments, anyway, and leave him to prove his nature for himself. I will go up to your mother now, and then I must off tothe city. It will bea hard day, Nan.’’ He sighed involuntarily as he turned to leave the room. At the doorway he turned to her again. ‘‘Keep watch over mother, Nan, and don’t allow any excitement near her. If neighbors come in, as undoubtedly they will, to hear the details, keep them quiet as possible. These are the doctor’s © orders; and if any—change—comes——”’ She looked up hastily, frightened at the change in his voice, and crossed quickly to his side; but the stern face was set, and she could make nothing from it. : ‘What do you mean, papa?”’ ‘“T should not have frightened you, child,’’ he said, gravely, his hand unconsciously touching the fair head that just reached to his shoulder; ‘‘but you are a woman now, Nan, and the only one to be depended upon in this time. A change in your mother’s condition may come at any moment, for the better or the worst. It would be cruel to keep you out of the knowledge and have it come like a blow, as it will be in any event if it comes, as it may. The nurse is capable of attending to her duties, but there must be some one to attend to the household, dear, and you are the only one to do it. Keep the ~ house as quiet as you can, and let me know at once if [ am needed——”’ He did not finish the sentence, but Nan under- Eomicbooks.com.