Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

She was sure that Perey Morton was deeply in- terested in her, How his face kindled when he spoke of her courage! How it softened into tender- ness when he told of her suffering! Then, too, she could not rid herself of the suspicion that had come to her so suddenly, that he had seen her before he ever came to Brighton and had come hither to seek her, although she could not account, if that was true, for the fact of their having met as strangers. There was something suspicious about their inter course, and she vowed that Hazel should go else- where very soon. With the dangerous knowledge which she possessed regarding her own history, it was absolutely necessary to get her out of her path, and thus prevent her from marring her whole future.» But how to accomplish this was a puzzling ques- tion, for Belle was infatuated with the girl, and her mother was so delighted with the hopeful change in Belle, that she would not be willing to give her up under any ordinary circumustanees or to gratify a mere whim of her own. “At all events,” she muttered to herself, ‘ther erippled state will keep her out of company for a ee and, meantime, I will make the most of my time.” Everybody professed profound regret over Hazel’s injury as soon as it became known. The duchess sent over @ basket of choice fruit from her own hot- houses the next afternoon. Lord Nelson culled the choicest buds from his greenhouse— knowing her preference for rosebuds—and brought them himself, so that he could inquire for her personally. Mrs. Harwood sent her a bottle of rare. old wine, and her son brought.a portfolio of conn coo REC oH