Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

A CHANGE OF - ABODE 169 upon Henrietta, in pursuance of a suggestion which Mr. Gunthorpe threw out, or, rather, a permission which he gave, for the young nobleman was docile as a child, and al- most as unsophisticated as one, being yet too timid and bashful to take any important step of his own accord. Alas, so considerable a portion of his life had been spent in a close and cruel confinement! Mr. Gunthorpe had pur- posely sent him out of the way that he might have an opportunity of making certain important revelations to Elizabeth and Frank. Accordingly, as soon as Adolphus had taken his departure in the carriage which was placed _at his disposal to convey him to Mrs. Leyden’s cottage, the old gentleman conducted Elizabeth and Frank to the hbrary of the mansion, and, taking a chair, he bade them seat themselves opposite to him, and listen attentively to the narrative he was about to unfold. There was a fervid curiosity in the mind of the youth, and though this same feeling was also experienced by his sister, 1t was blended on her part with a kind of solemn awe, for she was eight years older than her brother, and therefore more thoughtful in respect to the incidents which were now occurring, and more shrewd in forming certain suspicions and conjectures on particular points. When they were both seated near Mr. Gunthorpe, he addressed them in the following manner: “Tam about to speak of Lady Everton. I am about to tell you much regarding that unfortunate lady. It was for this reason that I have excluded Adolphus from our pres- ent conference, for it would be sad and mournful for him to hear the tale of his mother’s frailty and dishonour. You, Klizabeth, have acted wisely and well in keeping secret from him the suspicions which yourself and Frank have enter- tained in respect to Lady Everton, and it will be a matter of serious consideration for us all — perhaps too for Lady Everton herself — whether Adolphus shall ever have the veil torn from his eyes in respect to his mother’s secrets. For those suspicions on your part, Elizabeth, — those suspicions on your part, Frank, — are indeed well founded. Lady Everton is your mother! ”’ This announcement, although so fully expected, was re- ceived in deep silence, but also with deep emotion; and then, as if by a simultaneous ebullition of feeling at thus acquiring the certainty that the lady whom they had seen CONNIE DOOKS (S(O)