Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

CAROLINE WALTERS 209 ‘tis a sad affair—a sad affair, by all that I can learn — and that is little enough. Such a sweet creature, too — of such heavenly beauty — But there is that horrid noise again — ”’ “It is nothing —I can assure you it is nothing,” ob- served Mrs. Brace, somewhat impatiently. “Hush! not so loud!’ resumed Mrs. Lindley. “ As I was saying, the young lady in question is the only one in whom Miss Walters will not find a companion.”’ “At all events, you will not be without society, Caroline, ’ said Mrs. Brace, rising from her seat. ‘‘ And now, my dear girl, I must leave you, for I need not declare that my time is very, very valuable just at present.”’ “But you will come and see me soon?” exclaimed the wretched girl, throwing herself into the milliner’s arms and kissing her with that fervour which seemed to imply that the poor forlorn creature knew she was embracing her only friend. “Yes, I will come and see you often, very often, my dear Caroline,’ said Mrs. Brace; and, having returned her caresses with an affectionate warmth, — or, at least, with a great display of tender feeling, — the fashionable milliner gently disengaged herself from the arms of the poor girl who clung to her with the tenaciousness of a distracted grief. At length Mrs. Brace, having succeeded in getting away from her, hurriedly took her departure; and Caroline Walters found herself alone in that gloomy apartment with the midwife! GOMmicdooks (C©)