Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. Ne 203 left there by keenest suffering, the face he could still recall so fair, and bright, and gay, in its girlish bloom! Struck dumb with the consciousness of his own share in the change, he only kissed her, and left her without another word. ‘ Lhe earl had prepared ‘an excursion to tales away from the house the majority of his guests, on the afternoon the unwelcome visitor was expected, but a lowering sky, with occasional showers of rain, disturbed his calculations. And they were unusually dull and listless from the disappoint- ment, and, with ennured faces, were distributed at the win- dows, watching for a sign of fair weather, when the carriage brought Mathew Merle tothe entrancestep. Now, strangers. arriving and departing from Chichester Rookery was too common to attract attention. It had only been the fact of her coming unattended in a post-chaise that had drawn the observation of the noble company upon Jane West. Mathew Merle, then, for all his singular looks, excited no comment. Only Octavia Wainwright, sitting near the win- dow, playing chess with Lord Ronald, uttered a little ex- clamation of astonishment, and cast a second inquiring glance at the window. Felix was. in the room at the time, drawing a plan for the countess of a new summer-house.. Whatever else might occupy him, he never lost a look or gesture of Miss Wainwright’s. | He laid down his pencil and walked straight to the win- dow, reaching it just in time to recognize the missing wit- ness as he stepped under the portal. Miss Wainwright had made a false move and was Jesting over it, but she found time to look up questioningly as Felix returned. Their eyes met, and there was a little confusion on both sides. She finished her game with Lord Ronald, however, and Felix returned to his drawing. ‘The post- chaise still waited at the door. . C.--4. 4 a... ; . "ae Ps . ; he : ( + ’ ay A 8 ee ee es, . <hn,- pe *~ , > 3 rs ~ es: J —— x Ea =- ae oops” Fr A Lr a.” + 5 ~~ . = baal | ~~ . Me +" a ~ +5 he ye : z . s Sr...-% an al o ~ oY dex Sat <7 A =? if ; —_ nae gel at OR a7 eet A Fy 0 wi F bat Pinel tae By ieee oe 2 ‘ 4 a one oat or ot es, ster ; at _—. * % agit oe NB Ae te “Sf i. ; : ee SEAS a ae io - —s ~ . < ; ne os a 5.9 - ¥ we 520 - ; C Ps: PSN: ie ee I cade ee Oo § RA Ate frye Aegis |e a's e+ eG rf ae hip Soe Lae = * ge! 6 nr Ye, Pa 8 ply, * ae a Os rd te pe ath A ee ee 2's 5 he a ee aS oe re oT sy os ee . oe oe Sk eee eS re” a Rtg ES a Fa oN oe ~ “Se os , si apap ais Pe ae Pps ~ uv a4 fee 4 tot Ay ty a “ . Pa | “a * a iy 24359 i é a »* > - eS oi i, PER ESS a as ee “.€omicboo