The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

76 —_ [HE KING OF THE SCHUOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? CHAPTER XX, KATE CONWAY’S CONFESSION, It was quite a week before Frank's medical attendants could pronounce a decided opinion that his life was out of danger. His safety they then attri- buted to the constant and careful nurs- ing of his mother. But Mrs, Egerton began to look pale and weary. Constant watching, night and day, was a thing to which she was little accustomed. As soon as it was known that Frank might safely be left for a time to the care of a professional nurse, the widow lady was persuaded to take first a little rest, then a little exercise. In the first of her walks round the outskirts of the old town, the Earl of Pembridge, who, though barely sixteen years of age, fancied himself quite a man, gallantly offered to be her com- panion and escort. As they approached the gate leading from the school-field they noticed a very pretty girl, very neatly dressed, loitering about as though waiting for some one. The instant this fair maiden caught sight of the earl, she ran forward, and eagerly asked— ““ How is he to-day ?” “ Much better, Iam happy to say,” replied he. “The doctors pronounce his recovery certain.” ‘““T am so glad,” was the earnest re- mark that followed. “‘ You are speaking of my son, I pre- sume ?” said Mrs. Egerton, very much astonished at what she saw and heard. “ May I ask who this young lady is who seems to take such an interest in his health ?” | ** Mrs. Egerton—Miss Conway,” said the earl. ** Miss Conway must explain a little l peer more about herself. How came you to make my son’s acquaintance?” “‘ He saved my life when I was in the river,” said Kate, who had inquired at least twice a day as to Frank’s health ever since he received his wound. “ Well, once thanking would have been sufficient. What is your father, girl?” “He is copying-clerk for a lawyer, I and my sister are milliners,” Kate replied, in a very hesitating manner, alternately blushing and turning pale. “Does your father know of the friend- ship existing between my son and your- self ?” ‘““ Yes; he saved my father’s life as well as my own, and—” *< And what ?” For some time there was no reply. The question had to be repeated. “ I—J love him,” at last came slowly from her lips. Then, as if astonished at the enormity of the confession, the fair girl began to cry. ‘Love my son! how dare you, a mil- liner girl, do such a thing ?” said Mrs. Egerton, in angry tones. Kate Conway's tears came faster than before. “YT knew it,” she murmured, speak- ing more to herself than either of the persons in front of her. “I told him she would never allow us to marry.” ‘I would see him in his grave first ?” was the reply of the angry mother. The fair girl’s face grew paler than ever, her limbs sank beneath her, and she would have fallen to the ground had not the Earl of Pembridge’s arm sustained her. ** You are too severe,” said the young Go NOC EO mn