Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

ever know anything about it,” the girl pleaded. “Belle, as long as I remain with you, [ shall never deceive your mother in the slightest particular. TI, too, think we have done nothing wrong. but we have made the acquaintance of this stranger, and I shall tell Mrs. Stewart aboutitif you do not. You know that it is the right thing to do, and that you would eease to respect me, as I should cease to respect my- self, if I should be guilty of any deception.”’ “Of what aud whom are you speaking, Miss Gay?” inquired the cool, high-bred voice of Mrs Stewart at this juncture. She had been sitting in alow chair behind one of the massive pillars of the porch, and neither of the girls had seen her, while she had had heard nearly the whole of their conversation. Belle flushed scarlet, then she turned and bounded up the steps, all that was noblestin her aroused by Hazel’s brave stand for the right. She threw herself upon her knees by her mother’s side, and poured forth the whole story, in her eager, outspoken way, while Hazel stood quietly by, listen- ing, aud smiling now and then at Belle’s quaint and lively descriptions, while Mrs. Stewart glanced searchingly from one face to the other, When her daughter concluded she made two or three pertinent inquiries; then, appearing satisfied, she dismissed them, saying it was all right since they knew who the gentleman was; still, she would have pref.rred them to come directly home instead of going to the island after their accident. She kissed Belle as she arose from her kneeling posture. “Tam glad that you have told me, dear," s j “Do not ever deceive your mother, Ben BOSSE