Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

LADY BESS’S HISTORY (145 rejoiced when I came in sight of a pleasing valley, on the slope of which stood a little cottage with a number of sheep erazing near. ‘There | was welcomed by the shepherd and his wife, an elderly couple of hospitable disposition, and who asked no impertinent questions. I slept well that meht, and on the foliowing morning resumed my travels. During this second day I passed through several picturesque valleys, reminding me of what I had read of Alpine scenery, for high above them towered the enormous peaks of the moun- tains, some covered with snow. ‘There were glaciers upon those heights, and I learned that avalanches were by no means unknown. I fell in with many shepherds tending countless flocks, and when I sought refreshment, it was readily afforded, — a trifling remuneration, which was all that I could give, being gratefully accepted. At the end of my second day’s journey, I had altogether accomplished thirty miles, including the distance performed on the first day, and was now within fifteen miles of the nearest village in the French territory. It was about sunset on the third day that I reached this village, and there my passport was demanded by a gendarme as I[ was about to enter a little inn. I showed it, for I had it with me, and then in reply to the officer’s questions, I related sufficient of my past adventures to account for appearing in male attire, omitting however the circumstance of having made any exchange of garments with Mr. Knight. In short, I gave the gendarme to under- stand that these were the clothes in which I had escaped from the brigand’s tower.. The mayor of the village — a substantial farmer whose dwelling was upon the outskirts — heard my tale from the lips of the gendarme, and when TI rose on the following morning, the landlady of the inn told me that the mayor desired to see me. I accordingly proceeded to his house, where he, his wife, and a grown-up family of sons and daughters received me in the kindest manner. They invited me to remain a few days with them, and repose myself after the fatigues I had endured. This invitation I thankfully accepted, and I stayed with this amiable family for a week. I need hardly say that suitable female apparel was provided for me, but I may add that it was with some degree of regret I put off my male clothing, for I had grown accustomed to it, and preferred it to that which more properly became my sex. GoOmicdoo cS (C(O)