Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

should transfer his affections to any one else, and Helena thus lose the proud position which his wife would occupy in the future. Helena herself was somewhat disturbed by what had just occurred. She had never yet really settled in herown mind the question whether she should marry the young lord or not. Since she had seen Percy Morton she had become conscious that he was the only person in the world whom she could ever love better than she loved herself. If she could win him she knew that po coronet in the kingdom would have any attraction for her; if she could not—then, perbaps, the next best thing that she could do for herself would be to secure the heir apparent to Osterly. She had always held him at a certain distance—she did not wish to bring matters to a crisis until she had tested, still further, her power over Perey Morton; still, remarking his admiring glance at Marie EKarles- court, and seeing her grace’s evident affection for the young lady’s mother, she began to think that it might not be pleasant to have his allegiance to her trans- ferred to another, at least not at present. _Lord Nelson learned that afternoon that the Hon. William Earlescourt and his family were sojourning at one of the fine hotels of Brighton, where they in- tended remaining until they could secure a furnished house. Her grace went to call upon them immedi- ately, and gave them an urgent invitation to come to her until they were suited for the season, The invitation was accepted as cordially as it was given, and two days later found the family delight- fully located in an elegant suite of rooms in the duchess’ beautiful and spacious villa. Time had touched both Mr, and Mrs, Earlescourt very lightly. Emelie seemed scarcely v_older than when she came to England With Hae aeearen