Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

258 NOW MONSIEUR SMILES—-BUT— In the vestibule she looks around eagerly, breathlessly. They are not in sight. A number of men meet her gaze, but she pays no heed to them, since her eves fail to discover the particular forms she seeks. ‘‘Oh! where are they—why does fate tantalize me so ctuelly. I am sure there is more than fancy in it —more than the imagination of a distracted brain. Father, don’t you see them anywhere ?”’ ‘Who, child?’ the old man asks, half awed by this singular state on her part. ‘Those two so like my husband—my child.’ ‘“The woman is mad,’’ he mutters, for, poor old fool, his eyes have never once been turned for more than five seconds at a time upon the audience, and he does not dream of what the auditorium contained for himself and his child. She turns from him with acry of pain; can no one answer her eager question ; several men are advanc- ing, and to them she appeals. ‘*Did you see a party leave here a few minutes ago; several gentlemen and a lady, a beautiful little woman? I have missed them and desire to overtake them very much. Which way did they go?’’ she pants, laying a hand on the gentleman’s arm, so great is her excitement. To her astonishment, he clasps that in his, clasps it as though he had a right. She gives a cry, a gurgling cry of indignation, of alarm. | ‘“‘Unhand me, sir! How dare you?’’ she says, struggling to release herself. ‘Wretch, what does this mean?’ snaps the old Gomichooksscom a)