A Silver Brand — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. 277 _ Safe ?”’ ejaculated Lady Pauline, bursting into a passionate flood of tears as she turned her eyes toward the portrait before her. “My brother! Aubrey Dalberg, my brother!” repeated Lina, looking up pitifully into his face. ‘‘I don’t be- believe it.” | Aubrey bit his lip fiercely. : “Let us wait. There is so much to tell, so very much to be explained,” he said. Andisit safe for us to linger - here? He may recover, and we shall be again in his. power.” ‘‘He will not recover,” said Von Schubert, solemnly ; “the recklessness of his life gives assurance of it. They have gone for a physician and we shall soon know. Be-. sides, my friends, Hernberg has left strict orders to guard you well. But fear not. If there is sign of recovery I my- self will post away to court, and lay all this shameful his- tory before his majesty. It cannot be overlooked. He will not dare pass it by, even if his inclinations prompt it. — The record is too black and monstrous.” “And Icanaddto your testimony, papers which will mrove not only my Arnold’s innocence, but this man’s treasonable machinations,” said Lady Pauline. “It is for their recovery that he has persecuted, but has not dared to killme. I hid them; yearsand years ago I hid them, and still I have them safe.” And then the long and startling explanations were ex- changed. | “And where is Stephano?” asked the Baron Valentin, suddenly. “Lady Lina, has not my son found you?” | “He was thrust ashore, and bade to look after himself when we were taken from the schooner,” answered Lina. — “He whispered to me that he should find his way here — speedily,” explained Serena, coloring faintly as she spoke, - Lady Pauline looked at her wistfully. “My heart is strangely drawn toward your friend, Lina,” she said. ‘“ Where could she get that expression of | eye so wonderfully like my Arnold?” “T should be grieved, indeed, if you did not love her,” returned Lina, smilingly. ‘‘She is my precious Serena— _ my one darling friend. But for her help how should [ ever have borne the strangeness and discomfort of this forced journey? Oh! Serena, Serena, can you realize that we have really found my castle?” Lady Pauline turned at a gentle touch upon her arm, ee are | comicbooks (Efe)