Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVII THE ENAMOURED SQUIRE WE must now return to Saxondale Castle. Three weeks had elapsed since the accident with Mr. Hawkshaw’s spirited steed which had happened to Lord Harold Staunton. He had remained confined to his room for several days, at the termination of which he announced himself as being per- fectly restored to health and strength; and though he had since frequently complained of pains in the back and limbs, yet it was sufhciently evident that no serious consequences were to be apprehended. He continued to reside at the castle, notwithstanding his aunt and sister had taken their departure, and it began to be whispered amongst the do- mestics that he was to marry Lady Saxondale. It was known that the contemplated alliance between Lord Saxon- dale and Lady Florina Staunton had been suddenly broken off, and that Edmund had accompanied his guardian Lord Petersfiéld on the special mission with which that nobleman was charged to the Imperial Court of Vienna. Meanwhile Squire Hawkshaw had continued unremitting in his attentions to Juliana Farefield, — not only unremit- ting, but, if possible, doubling them. He was completely infatuated with that superb creature, and she took good care to retain him captive in the snares wherewith she had caught him. He was a constant visitor at the castle, and every day was seen walking or riding out with Juliana. Still he had not as yet formally proposed for her hand. Be it re- membered that he had firmly resolved to allow at least a month to elapse from the night of the ball at the Denisons’ ere he confessed his passion ee proffered his suit. It had | cost him many an effort to keep back the tender avowal, but he had sueceeded in doing so, under the impression that 304 Eomichbooks