Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

THE DISCARDED SUITOR 95 he had determined to put a bold face on the matter, and therefore he was entering the room with a jaunty free and easy look and manner, when he was taken considerably aback on beholding Mr. Gunthorpe. For knowing that the old gentleman had been in Lincolnshire at the time of the murder, he could not help fancying that his presence at Lady Macdonald’s on this occasion was to give some explana- tion or warning not altogether favourable to his (Saxon- dale’s) engagement with [lorina. He therefore started, and stopped short for a moment, but quickly recovering his effrontery, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Ah, Mr. Gunthorpe! What, are you here? ”’ “You see that I am,” responded the old gentleman, ‘and this time, Lord Saxondale, I do not think that you will threaten to have me kicked out of the house, as you did when last we-met, which was in Park Lane.”’ “Oh, never mind the past,’’ ejaculated the young noble- man, looking somewhat confused, however. Then advancing toward the young lady, he extended his hand, saying, “ Well, Flo, so you have got back from Lincolnshire? ” She did not accept the proffered hand, and her look re- mained grave, but no word passed her lips. “ Cool, eh?’ muttered Lord Saxondale to himself; then turning toward the aunt, he said, ‘“‘ And how is your lady- ship? Why, what the deuce is the matter? You all seem so uncommonly serious.” “Perhaps your lordship will sit down,” interrupted Lady Macdonald, pointing to a chair at a little distance from the eroup, “ for it is necessary that you should receive a certain explanation from my lips.’’ Kdmund took the chair accordingly, and endeavoured to assume, or, rather, to persevere in the assumption of an offhand and unconcerned manner, but he nevertheless felt confused and uneasy. “My lord,’ continued Lady Macdonald, “‘ from some additional particulars which have appeared in the news- papers relative to a certain lamentable tragedy — and which particulars cannot have escaped your notice — it is but too evident that one of the unfortunate victims had for several weeks past been living under your protection.” “ Well, what of it?” ejaculated Edmund. “I am not married to Flo yet, and of course should have cut the concern : CONNIE DOOKS (FO)