Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

ANOTHER MEETING oll having hitherto maintained so much unnecessary reserve on that point.’’ ‘“ Forgiveness!’ he repeated, smoothing down her rich and shining auburn hair with his hand; ‘ how could I be angry with you, even for an instant? ”’ ‘“ Dear George, how kind you are!’ she murmured, the tears on her cheeks exhaling with the warmth of the sunny smiles which now succeeded them. ‘Proceed, my love,’’ said the prince, drawing her again toward him, so that her head once more reclined upon his breast; for he did not wish her now to contemplate his features while she spoke, inasmuch as he had a presentiment that he was about to hear’something calculated to excite the acutest feelings that could possibly indicate their hidden workings by the expression of the countenance. “ You said that this secret might possibly concern the honour of one of those ladies — ”’ “Yes —if she were not married,’’ interrupted the artless Octavia. ‘ But if Mrs. Mordaunt be the real name, as you said it was, of that beautiful young lady of eighteen, then must she be married, and there is no disgrace. At the same time, the mystery which was observed relative to the child — ”’ “The child! ’’ repeated the prince, scarcely able to con- trol his feelings. ‘“ But you are speaking, my dearest Oc- tavia, as if I were already acquainted with everything, whereas, I know nothing as yet of all this.” “Pardon me for the giddy way in which I began my narrative, dear George,’ said the lovely girl, pressing his hand to her lips. ‘I should have told you at once that Mrs. Mordaunt became a mother almost immediately after she entered our house.”’ | ‘A mother!’’ murmured the prince, under his breath; for it was with the greatest difficulty he could now johae the terrible emotions that were agitating in his bosom. ‘And what became of the child?’ he demanded. ‘“ He was placed in the care of a surgeon named Thurston, and who resides in our neighbourhood,” answered Octavia. “ Then it was a boy? ”’ exclaimed os prince; and, scarcely pausing for an instant, he added, “‘ I suppose the surgeon attended upon my — Mrs. Mor daunt: I mean, in her con- finement? ”’ CORNICE OOO <S' (C(O)