Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

Af M's Sy Pp cay pai | Sere A Uf Ge 3 Me + uae ae aah, re Re As ned Ee tats Foe ~~ : ‘ Pd ; Aa s ae Ft : ~ ao > + 7a OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 177 confronted with the direst possibilities—what wonder that my eyes were blinded? Alack, alack! I meant to do the best thing. I cajoled myself as well as deceived him. Let it pass. Why must I be stretched continually on this ag- onizing rack? Woman, tell me your errand and go!” ‘“It issoon done,” answered Jane West. ‘‘ Doctor Morley was my friend as well as master. He trusted me with a great deal, although he held back the secret which eat into his life like a burning coal. He showed me a box one day.” She paused a moment, for her throat was dry, and some- thing very like a sob broke in upon the steadiness of her voice. Lady Falkner was looking at her wistfully, forgetting her words in the ideas they suggested. ‘* You lived with him!” said she, eagerly. ‘*Oh, happy woman! You saw him every day. He received little at- tentions of yours, no doubt.” ‘* He did,” replied Jane, with one of her rare smiles. ‘‘ I devoted my time and heart to his service. Heaven be praised that I know I succeeded in soothing away a little of his dreariness and pain. His diary will show you that he was good enough to stoop so much as to cherish a kindly regard for apoor girl likeme. ‘hat remembrance is what I live upon. It is in his service that I have braved all the dangers that lie between Australia and this cold land of yours. It is a crown more honorable and precious in my sight than your jeweled. coronet, which I place upon my own forehead when I call myself Doctor Morley’s friend. ~Look you, your ladyship, it will be more od yar than any of your Proud distinction ‘up there above.” ) “J know it,” said Lady Falkner, in a low, bitter tone. From the depths of my heart I envy you. If you like, I will humble my unworthy porenead to vouch the see of your -stamless garment.” i Fae? en Pear oF 4 To 5 trese' Ss ie Ta, & he H Eh we eky RP we OF a ? +S 2 et WAY EP Ay ‘ | - comicboo “cS €oO eee | ¢, dee See -" 7 iO Wks * mi