Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

REYNOLDS’ WORKS CHAPTER I THE THOROUGHBREDS On the following day Mr. Hawkshaw arrived to lunch at Saxondale Castile, shortly after one o’clock, according to invitation given him by the lady of the mansion herself ere he took his departure on the previous evening. He came on a most splendid thoroughbred horse, of which he had spoken the day before, and concerning which Lord Harold had expressed some degree of curiosity. During luncheon, Staunton renewed the conversation relative to the horse, and Mr. Hawkshaw launched forth into enthusiastic eulogies of its brilliant qualities, at the same time describing it as one which only a fearless rider would venture to mount. ‘“ Perhaps,’’ said Lord Harold, with a smile, “ you are not aware, Mr. Hawkshaw, that I am considered by my friends to be a most excellent equestrian, and if you will permit me the opportunity, after luncheon, I will convince you whether I am afraid to take your horse at the highest gate we can find in the fields around about.” “I request, Harold, that you will not be so foolish,” said Florina, who, notwithstanding her diminished opinion of her brother’s rectitude of principle and worth of character, nevertheless still entertained for him too great a sisterly regard not to be frightened at this proposed venture on his part. : : “And I also must interpose my authority,” said Lady Macdonald, “ that is to say, if I possess any, which indeed I hope I do. For people in our sphere of life — ”’ 1 (COU 0)(0)(6) “S (C(O)