The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

136 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. cold cell as I am, with no kind friends to visit you— alone, with your own sad thoughts to keep you com- pany—would you wish to send some token, or receive one from those you love 2” “ Yes,” sighed the child, half crying. ‘ You will, then?” There was a pause; the poor little creature was struggling between her duty and inclinations: the latter at last prevailed. “‘T will,’ she said; “ but you must never ask me again, for if mother or Mr. Crab should find it out, I should never hear the last of it. Remember, only this once—no more?”’ _ “ Qnly this once,’”’ repeated the old man, trembling between hope and fear. Fortunately Lizzy had her copy-book and pencil with her. She had only just returned from school, and finding her parents both out, had seized the opportunity of fulfilling her promise to the widow’s children by visiting the clerk. Hastily tearing a leaf from the book, she rolled her pencil in it, and thrust them through the bars. Once in possession of them, in the hopefulness of his nature, Gridley saw himself already at liberty. Placing the paper against the wall—for there was no table in the cell—he hastily traced a few hieroglyphics by the uncertain light, and handed it back to his visitor. ‘You will be sure not to lose it?” ‘Don’t fear me,’ said the child, with a smile; for COniiclooecl SS (SO