Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

202 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a experienced an almost maternal satisfaction and pride in contemplating that beautiful youth who bore the en- dearing name of brother. ‘“ How changed, my dear Frank,” she said, as they rambled along together, “‘ are the circumstances of our position. Does it not all appear like a dream? ”’ ‘There have been moments,’ answered Frank, ‘“‘ when I have hesitated to believe that it was all a reality. Yester- day morning — and this morning, too — when first awaking, I sat up in the bed, looking around the splendidly furnished chamber, and wondering whether I indeed saw 1t with my outward vision, or whether it was a delusion of the fancy. Yes, extraordinary things have taken place within the last few weeks. But the condition of Adolphus has experienced a change as remarkable as our own.” “And is he not happy now?” said Elizabeth; ‘“ how devotedly he appears to love that sweet and amiable girl Henrietta. But methought you sighed, Frank?” exclaimed his sister, and stopping suddenly short in the road where they were walking at the time, she gazed attentively upon him. Ah, my dear brother! the colour mantles upon your cheeks. You have a secret which has been kept back from me? ”’ ‘Forgive me, dearest Elizabeth, forgive me,’ said the youth, murmuringly, ‘it is true — it is true — and I have been wrong to keep that.secret from you.”’ “TI do not demand your confidence, Frank,’’ observed Elizabeth, as she slowly walked on again leaning on her brother’s arm, ‘‘ but if you think fit to give it to me, I will bestow either counsel or sympathy in return.” ‘“T know not,’’ resumed Frank, with half-averted counte- nance and downcast looks, ‘‘ whether it'is really love which I experience, and yet methinks it must be — But it has been sensuously guilty, and — ”’ “But its object? ’’ said Elizabeth, inquiringly, seeing that her brother stopped suddenly short. Juliana Farefield,’’ was the response. ‘“‘ Ah, Lady Saxondale’s elder daughter. But if you really love her, Frank, you may aspire to her hand. There is no need for you to be disconsolate,’”’ continued his sister; “ on the return of our father, you must tell him everything. And yet, my dear brother,” she added, speaking more slowly and Gomicbooks' (Eo)