Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

470 _ OOTAVIA'S PRIDE. «Why, Mr. Middleton!” ejaculated the pale little mis- tress. ‘““T beg your pardon, Mrs. ay The cireumstances are peculiar. Will you allow me to come up stairs % fo a ‘private room, and pray, good people, if any one comes don’t let them know this poor lad is here.” ‘What a beautiful face!” exclaimed Mrs. Grey, reassured, and prompt to respond to the call for her sympathy. ‘‘ Bring him up to my room and I will see what I can do. You do not think him dead?” ‘Heaven forbid! It is only a fright. J am so thankful to have saved him. He -was being carried off against his will, and must have leaped from the coach. ‘Tell him he is safe, and do all you can for him. I must hurry down to the London station to bring his friend here. Besides I had better show myself in the street. J am positive no one saw where I came.” | He gave her no time to demur, but hurried to the front entrance and out upon the crowded thoroughfare. He searched the station over, but the lady was not to be seen. After a useless search for her, not daring to leave any ad- dress with the employees there to guide her, he returned to his friend’s house and his self-imposed charge. The lady of the house met him with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, and a rather haughty toss of the head. ‘Is he better?” exclaimed Maurice. ‘‘ Has he recov- ered?” “Quite recovered?” answered the lady, dryly. ‘‘ Really I must say, Mr. Middleton, this is very extraordinary con- duct.” <<T know it is, ‘but how could I help it? When I tell you the story, you will not wonder I did what I could to save the poor boy.” ‘‘ Boy!” repeated Mrs. Grey, with inereasing acrimony of eee ‘ » i ate mF mic Tose Pe m i tie, BY cd Ap Pa pe pif Sal gd