Her Faithful Knight — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

62 | A Ruined Life. finding the address of the ‘Settled for Life’ company in the theatrical newspapers. “As soon as my senses came back to me I resolved to find him out. At least, | must have some proof as to whether my marriage was or was not illegal, and not for my own sake alone. I was at first so strangely ill and weak that I could hardly cross the room, and constantly last my identity; but as soon as the doctor said that I was well enough to travel, I followed the company from the midland town where I was taken ill to Richmond in Surrey, a long, hot and tiresome journey, to defray which I had to sell my trinkets, my taeatrical wardrobe, and - even the clothes I was wearing, taking some discarded -ones of my landlady’s in exchange. “T reached Richmond in the evening, and saw the bills of the company about the town. I had only a few shil- lings left, and nothing that I could sell. I know quite well you will say to me: ‘Why did I not apply to you?’ Remember, dear, I did try to come to you that night when I first learned that dreadful story; after that, for many days, I did not even know who or where I was. I have always been such a shocking correspondent that I knew my long silence would not trouble you; and, be- sides, how could I write you such a hideous and shameful confession? And how could I bear to take your money when I know how hard you work, and how you have kept the home going and paid Cresswell’s wages and everything? Since I married Sergius I had never sent any money home. The two pounds ten a week I earned hardly did more than pay for his cigarettes and whiskies and sodas, and the getting up of his linen, about which he was most particular, for he had in everything extrava- gant tastes, and wore the most beautiful and expensive clothes. “At Richmond I dared not openly ask for Sergius. Eomicbooks (€@)