Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

that name ever since [ can remember,” she returned, a bright color suffusing her cheeks. “No little bird, but only your own witching self betrayed it to me,” he returned, in a voice intended for her ear alone. “Really, Miss Gay, you appear to be holding quite acourt! Pray what subject do you find so entertain- ing and absorbing ?”’ It was Helena Stewart who spoke in the softest and most dulcet tones, and glancing up, Hazel found that young lady standing near, an expression of awuse- ment and indulgence upon her high-bred face, as if: she considered it arare joke for a governess to be playing the lady in that style. In spite of her smiling face and musical tones. a shiver of repugnance ran through Hazel’s nerves. There was something about the beautiful belle that had always chilled and repelled her, and now she instinctively detected a hidden malice which warned her that Helena Stewart was her bitter foe. “Cake and strawberry cream, just now, Helena, constitute the most entertaining topic I tind for dis- cussion,” interrupted Belle, who was just finishing ‘the second plateful of her favorite ice. “Oh! T imagined that pearls and diamonds must be dropping from Miss Gay's lips by the way every- body was hanging upon her words,” retorted Miss Stewart, with a gay laugh, which seemed simply to pele an inoffensive jest, although the keen edge of er intended satire cut Hazel to the heart. She was too proud-spirited to show it, however, and 2 ppsve her empty plate to Lord Nelson, she asked. composedly : “Have you been down into the gorge, Miss Stew- art? Lam told that it is a very weird place.” “Yes; I have been there, and it is as dismal as the grave,” replied Helena, briefly, and wit? Wee pli Ce a ee aE