The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 267 and William. I believe it was owing to that he first turned his attentions to me; so I at least cannot regret it.” ‘TI believe he is,” replied the orphan, with a blush, in answer to her question. ** And kind ?” ‘Qh, that I am sure of. He has the gentlest nature and the truest heart that ever beat. How else would he have descended to love a poor, friendless girl like myself? He was the friend of my brother, too— almost his only friend. Had nature been as niggard in her gifts as, on the contrary, she has been bountiful, I should have loved him for that—for his mind and worth.” “And when did you first perceive that you loved him ?” “TIT don’t know,” replied Amy, with a sigh. “I have known him ever since I was a child. He was always kind to me. The feeling became part of my nature before I was aware of its existence. I suppose that is how most girls fall in love.” “I dare say it is,’ sagaciously observed Mary Heart- land. ‘* At least it was so with me and William. At first, do you know, I was wicked enough to find plea- sure in teasing him. Poor fellow! he bore itso well— never once frowned, or lost his temper; only looked very serious, and then—I never knew how it happened —but I grew serious too; till one day, to my astonish- ment—for I had never given a thought upon the subject COniiclooecl SS (SO