Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

| pee never suspected the existence of sucha thing. “It is very cunningly concealed,” Mrs. Earlescourt replied, ‘and I do not believe any one would find it withont having it explained. I have often wondered who had the other necklace, and if I should ever see it again; but,’ the lady added, an indignant flush mantling her cheek, “I am deeply incensed at Mrs. Stewart for the part she has taken against you." “But she really believed me guilty, and I suppose she thought I ought to be punished,” Hazel said. “Still, she might have taken a different way; your conduct had always been above suspicion; she might have kept the necklace after it was found and let you go. To think of you, my delicate, sensitive daugh- ter, being arrested and publicly tried for—theft!” and Mrs. Harlescourt shiyered at the dreadful thought. “But you forget, we should not have found each other otherwise; Hazel returned. ‘‘It is this very unpleasant publicity that has given us back to one another.” “True; but for the trial and the account published I should have known nothing about you, and you would have been condemned,” sighed Mrs. Earles- court, ouly half reconciled to Hazel’s sufferings even now, “and yet that does not excuse Mrs. Stewart's unfeeling part in the matter.” “But, mainma,’’ Hazel glaneed up with a shy smile and blush as she uttered the fond name, while her mother's encircling arms tightened about her, ‘‘she really could not help herself after all—don't you see ? She had given the matter into the hands of an officer, and, of course, it became his duty to arrest ine. when he found such strong evidence againS? Wie FHe-