Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

She said nothing of what she had seen to either Belle or her 1vother, but they wondered to see her return in such gay spirits when she had been so dis- agreeable about going after the wrap. “Where is Miss Gay!” Lord Nelson inquired, when he met Mirs. Stewart and her daughters at the en- trance ta the drawing-room, on their arrival. Mrs. Stewart looked her surprise at the question, and Belle hastened to explain. “Why, she didn’t have——” she began, when a sharp nudge from Helena suddenly silenced her, and then she was jamazed to hear her sister add, in a tone of regret? Wat's! 3 Miss Gay! she was not able to come to- night.” | “Sheis not ill, I hope?’ his lordship exclaimed, looking both disappointed and anxious. “Oh, no; only certain circumstances would not admit of her coming. What a brilliant display!” Helena added, glancing about the magnificent room. “Surely, some one has wonderful taste in the arrange- ment of flowers.’’ ’ When they went forward to greet the duchess, her grace also kindly inquired fer Hazel, expressing regret at her absence, and Helena made tue same. explanation that she had given Lord Nelson. Belle, with her blood boiling, now understood that some trickery on the part of her sister had served to keep Hazel at home, and she longed to expose it by boldly proclaiming that she had received no invita- tion, and that alone was the occasion of her remain- ing behind. But this would have made matters very awkward for her mother, as well as for Helena, and so she was forced to keep silence, although she determined | have it out with her sister later. scsimicbooksacon