Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XX THE RETREAT IN WALES In the vicinity of Rhavadergwy —a town in Wales — stood a small but pleasing residence, in one of the most picturesque parts of Radnorshire. The site of this habita- tion was upon an eminence, and a beautiful garden sloped gently down to a purling rivulet which formed its boundary. In the rear of the house there was a paddock, in which the deer disported gaily, and where the swans floated upon a large piece of artificial water. It was about eleven o’clock in the forenoon that the Mar- quis of Hagledean, having walked forth from Rhavaderewy, where he arrived on the previous evening, approached this dwelling of which we have just spoken. His countenance expressed a mingled anxiety and seriousness. More than sixteen years had elapsed since he had seen Lady Everton, and he was now about to present himself before her. He had learned in the town that she lived in an almost total seclusion, that she was exceedingly charitable and devout, but that it was generally reported and believed in the neigh- bourhood that her reason was affected. The marquis had not chosen to appear too minute in his inquiries, and there- fore beyond these few particulars he had learned little or nothing. On reaching the vicinage of the habitation, he stopped short at a distance of about fifty yards, and gazed upon it with the feeling we have above described, —a feeling of mingled seriousness and anxiety. Yes, upwards of sixteen years had elapsed since he had seen her, and she was then thirty years of age. She must therefore be now forty-six. Must not an immense change have been accomplished during this interval in her personal appearance? A change, too, 231 ECOMNICLOOOKS.€O