Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

you—that she desires to see you the wife of her srandson—Lord Nelson. Iam sure she invited us here thaé yeu might see more of each other, and cou- summate an engagement. I thought it was the height of your ambition to achieve such a distinction —to wear the strawberry leaves.” “T should like to be a duchess, I admit,’ Helena au- swered, thoughtfully. “I should enjey being mis- tress of Osterly Park”’—her eyes resting linveringly on the fair landseape without’— dipping iy fingers in its well-filled coffers and occupying the proud position that Lord Nelson could give moe; but “But what?’ eame impatieutly from Mrs. Stewart, “Wealth, position, and title are not all that sheuld be taken into consideration in settling one’s fate for all time.” “Indeed! what has brought you to such a philo- sophical conclusion 2” inquired her mother, with an acecnt of scorn, While she studied the fair face at the window inost earnestly. “Ifit was that handseme young doctor’s face and fascinating address, I shall regret that we ever called him.” “Thank you, mamma; possibly it was a mistake: I might lave escaped trials that we cannot foresee,” ironically responded Miss Stewart, an augry scarlet on ber cheek. “Oh, Helena! youknow I did not mean hat?” cried the elder lady, in a voice of horror, as she compre- hended hew much her words implied. Of course I know that he saved your life—that you would have died but for him; but—you shill not make a fool of yourself ever him’—this with an imperative tap of her foot. “You know,’ she resumed, ‘what I have set my heart upon; to see your future ie as- sured—to see you mistress of all this fair « and she waved her shapely hand towaftt™ He? circa