Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

“She might at least have given her the shelter of her home, as became a Christian woman, and tried to wil her back to a better life, if. she has been tempted and erredin a moment of weakness,” she said, re- Sag **Where is she?’ she asked, rising to go to aze “In the library; but grandmother, pray do not let her see that you believe her guilty,” pleaded the young man, eurnestly, a hot flush suffusing his face, | “for—forgive me if i wound you, I may as well con- fess it first as last, I have learned to love this beauti- ful girl with my whole soul. For my sake, if not for hers, refrain from wounding ber.” “Nelson!” exclaimed the aged duchess, regarding him with an expression of astonishinent and great distress. “T must be honest, if is true, your grace,” he re- turned, with proud humili . “though I grieve if [ wound you. have not fa lea to understand that you had other wishes and plans for me,” he went on, gravely, ‘and it gives me pain to disappoint youin them; but, grandmother, you have uot exercised your usual penetration and judgment in this matter, for Helena Stewart, in spite of her beanty, accom- plishments, and apparent sweetness of disposition, is not a true woman; sheis talse and sélfish at heart, or Tam greatly mistaken.” ‘‘My son, do not depreciate another for the sake of fortitying your own doubtful cause,” said the duchess, in tones of grave.reproof. “T would not, I assure you, wrong her willfully, but two or three circumstances have of late come under my observation and opened wy eyes to the fact and confirmed this opinion of her character. For one thing, Miss Gay did not receive her card Sih Ir r'e- ception last evening.” ; ae