Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

Earlescourt. “Tf [Thad had more time to consider the matter,” Perey resumed, “I should have withdrawn my prom- ise,even after it was given; but, before I could re- alize the si-uation, Sir Henry Harwood, supposing us to be strangers to each other, formally intro- duced us, After that, it seemed as if there was no other way but to let matters take their course, or foree awkward explanations upon him and others.” “Well, it is all understood at last,’ Mrs. Stewart answered, ‘and there is really no harm done. I re- egret, however, all the pain and mortification that “Miss Gay—or Miss Grahain, I suppose we ought to call her now—has suffered, and I feel myself to blame for a great deal of it; Iam waiting to tell her so now; and yet, but for this trial, Mrs, - Earlescourt might never have found her daughter,” she con- cluded, smiling. “Yes, we all feel that way,” Perey said, but he looked pale and troubled as he made the remark. He was painfully oppressed by the knowledge that Hazel Graham, the daughter of a lady who occupied one of the first positions in London society, was au entirely different person from Hazel Gay, the or- phan, who, hitherto, had known scarce a friend save himself. “Can I see her?’ Mrs. Stewart asked.. ‘‘Will she be able to see me for a@ moment? ILI owe her a heartfelt apology and I shall not rest until I have made it.’ “She will no douht be glad to see you later,” Percy replied; “but she is not here. As soon as word Boh brought to her that she was released fro her grace took her directly home, rconniaiheeee send