Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

THE DISCARDED SUITOR 101 promise atonement. [am sure you will not refuse me your confidence.” “No, not for worlds,’ cried Lady Bess, with unfeigned sincerity. ‘‘ Your goodness toward me demands it, and I feel also, without knowing why, that you have a right to expect it. Most sacredly do I assure you, Mr. Gunthorpe, that my mind was made up to tell you everything the next time you called, even though you should not have else- where discovered that dread secret which has filled you with so much generous affliction on my behalf. Oh, but I have been haunted by the fear, ever since you left this house yesterday, that you would never return! I was seized with a presentiment that you were going somewhere to make inquiries that would bring to your knowledge this sad phase in my eventful lie; and methought that if you did thus learn it, you would cast me out with scorn and loathing from your memory.” “ No, Elizabeth, I could not do that,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, “and that I could not, the proof is that I am here again to-day. And now that I have given you the assurance that it is not my purpose to reproach you, I beg you will delay not, my dear Elizabeth, in lifting the veil that covers the mystery of your life. Conceal nothing from me. Whatsoever you may have to confess will not draw vituperation from my lips; nothing but sympathy shall flow thence. You have not known me long, but perhaps you have seen enough of me to trust in this assurance? ”’ “Tf any encouragement were wanting,” said Elizabeth, deeply moved, “* to induce me to make the fullest revelations, it has just been given in these kind words that you have spoken.”’ She seated herself near Mr. Gunthorpe, and in a calm, firm voice commenced her-narrative in the following manner. ) CONNIE DOOKS (FO)