Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

THE DISCARDED SUITOR si “ Lady Florina Staunton,” said the aunt, with severe tone and look, ‘“‘ has only been kept in the room during this unpleasant scene that she may, if necessary, give from her own lips an assurance entirely corroborative of mine.”’ ~“ What,” ejaculated Edmund, “ do you mean to tell me, Flo, that you don’t love me? I’msure you won't say that? ”’ “T am compelled to speak plainly and frankly in this matter,’ replied’ the young maiden, with a modest dignity. ‘‘ T am desirous, Lord Saxondale, that the engagement should be broken off between us.”’ “It is you who have done this mischief! ’’ cried the noble- man, starting up from his seat and addressing Mr. Gunthorpe menacinely. ‘‘ You are poking your nose in everywhere, — bullying my mother in the first place, and now thrusting yourself into my affairs. What the deuce does it all mean? And pray who are you? ”’ ‘“ Lord ‘Saxondale,” said the old gentleman, slowly rising from the sofa and bending a stern look upon the aristocratic stripline, “‘ it is altogether useless for you to affect the airs of the bully with me. If you dare to talk thus in the pres- ence of one of your own sex, it is not difficult to imagine what your conduct would be before these ladies, were they unprotected and alone.” ‘Oh, don’t take things up quite so sharp,” ejaculated Edmund, overawed by the old gentleman’s demeanour. Then turning to Lady Macdonald, he said, ‘‘ I hope you will forgive me for the past, I don’t want to break off with Flo, I am very fond of her, and | will turn over a new leaf and be quite steady. Indeed, | mean to leave London for two or three months. I have just been with Lord Petersfield, who is going as ambassador extraordinary to Vienna, and I am to accompany him. The fact is, I am heartily sick of the life I have been leading, and want change of scene, but if you desire it, Lady Macdonald, I will stay in London, and show you that I can become more steady.”’ “Tam glad, Edmund,” said her ladyship, in a kinder tone than she had before used, “ to hear you talk in this manner, and I-do most sincerely hope that you will reform. I think you would do well to absent yourself for a time, especially as you are going with your guardian Lord Petersfield, a nobleman of such high honour and integrity — ”’ Here ‘a suppressed ejaculation from Mr. Gunthorpe drew CONNIE DOOlKS (C(O)