Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

100 REYNOLDS’ WORKS struck by the mournfulness of Mr. Gunthorpe’s look and manner, and the truth flashed in unto her mind. The old gentleman dismissed his carriage for the present, bidding the coachman return at two o’clock, and he then entered the parlour with Lady Bess. Closing the door, she looked him full in the face, but yet with an expression of profound sorrow and humiliation on her features, saying, “ Mr. Gunthorpe, do you not despise me? Do you not scorn and loathe me? ”’ ‘““My God, no!”’ he ejaculated, with a strange excitement, and taking her hand, he pressed it long and warmly, while the tears ran down his cheeks. ‘ You suspect, Elizabeth, that I have learned something concerning you.” “Yes, I see it in your manner, I know that you have,” she answered, weeping. ‘“ But how is it possible that you could come near me again? How is it that you can thus demon- strate so much kind and generous feeling toward me? Who are you, Mr. Gunthorpe? Tell me who you are! That is a question which | have asked myself a thousand times since you were here yesterday, a question that I must ask a thou- sand times again until you solve it.”’ ‘“T cannot now, Elizabeth,” replied the old gentleman. ‘ But shortly, very shortly, | may do so. Suffice it for you to know that I entertain the warmest and sincerest interest in your behalf.” “ Oh, that proof of munificence which you left with me yesterday!’ exclaimed Lady Bess. “It is a fortune. But see, I have not dared to avail myself of your bounty. I give it you back again, for now that you know all, you must feel how thoroughly unworthy I am of your kindness,” and as she spoke, she drew forth from her bosom the cheque which Mr. Gunthorpe had left on the preceding day. “ Keep it, Elizabeth, keep it, it is yours,” he said, gently pushing back her hand which held the draft. “‘ Would to Heaven that ten thousand times the amount would redeem the past!”’ : ‘“ Ah, would that I could redeem it! ”’ ejaculated Elizabeth. ‘“ But at least I may atone for it, and most solemn is my re- solve to make such atonement.” “T came not to reproach you, my dear Elizabeth,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, still profoundly affected, ‘‘ but to hear from your lips the narrative of that past for which you Gomicbooks.co