Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

him to reply. ‘‘T give you my promise, your grace,” he said, after a moment; “but. if she is proved innocent of this charge, I shall ask you to release me from it, and also grant me your permission to make this lovely girl wy wife if I can win her.” “You are of age, my boy. Iecannot prevent your doing as you choose. Still, it would be a bitter trial to me—one that, I fear, I could not bear and live—to have any taint come upon our honored house and nae,” the duchess, said, tremulously. “One moment,’ his lordship pleaded, as she was turning from hin. ‘‘Pray, do not alow Hazel to feel that you believe her guilty.” “T think you may trust me, my son, not to willfully wound even the least of ny Master's ‘little ones,’” she replied, with gentle dignity. The young man sprang forward and raised her hand to his lips. “T know that your heart is full of Christian char- ity,’”’ he said, deeply moved. “You are the noblest woman in all England.” He led her to the door, and, with an air of pro- found respect, held it open while she passed out, and closed it softly, ahnost reverentially, when she was gone. comfichbooks.conn