Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

216 REYNOLDS’ WORKS England the dark side of my thoughts grew darker. You might be no more, you might have gone to some far distant clime, without leaving a trace to guide me in the search; or even if you were in your own native land, it might still be impossible to discover you. “T reached Dover, and accident led me to take up my temporary quarters at a hotel where you were known. The moment my name was perceived upon the card fastened to my trunk, I became the object of interest with the persons of that establishment. Miss Marshall sought an opportunity of dropping a hint that she knew me, — at least by name. Some conversation took place, and you may conceive how great was the tide of enthusiastic joy which was poured into my soul, when I learned many particulars concerning you. Yes, I learned that you were alive and well, that you were in reality unmarried, that your heart remained unsuscep- tible of that passion which was consuming me, and that you had very recently experienced a change in your circumstances of a fortunate description. Miss Marshall spoke of you in the kindest and most friendly terms. She spoke of you, indeed, with the tender interest of a sister, and I firmly believe, Elizabeth,— yes, I am -convinced of it, — she looked not unfavourably upon me when I confessed to her the object of my visit to England, — that I came as a suitor for your hand. That she deemed me thus worthy of espous- ing her dearest friend — for such you are in her estimation — her conduct toward me showed. She gave me certain infor- mation how to discover your residence on my arrival in London, or at least she told me as much as she herself knew at the time upon the subject. I have been to the house which you have recently left, — a picturesque little dwelling not far from hence. There I found a female who had been your servant, and she directed me hither. Now, Elizabeth, you know all. My narrative 1s ended, and my fate is in your hands. You have a word to speak,—a word which will either fill me with happiness, or condemn me to despair. I pray you that it may not be spoken inconsiderately or rashly. I come to lay my title and my fortune at your feet. I can give you rank and riches, but what is ten thousand times more valuable, I can give you a heart which never loved before it first became impressed with your image, and can never love another. Now, Elizabeth, solemnly do Gomicbooks.¢co