Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 374: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALL ood Lady Saxondale drew herself up slightly, but made no further remark; she remembered her compact with Juliana, and did not choose to violate it. ‘““T dare say,” observed Mr. Hawkshaw, addressing him- self to Miss Farefield, ‘ that you will become acquainted with my young friend in the course of the evening, and I am sure you will be pleased with him.” Mrs. Denison was at the moment making some remark to Lady Saxondale, and Juliana said, in a low, quick whisper, to Mr. Hawkshaw, but with an arch smile upon her counte- nance, ‘‘ And shall you not be jealous, my dear George, if you see me dancing with that handsome youth whom you have brought hither to turn all the ladies’ heads? ”’ ‘Not I indeed!” he responded, also with a smile, but which was as replete with frankness and ingenuous con- fidence as that of his intended was hypocritical and feigned. “T think too highly of you, my dearest Juliana, to be jealous.” ‘““T am glad to hear you speak thus,” she responded. “But have you mentioned to Mr. Paton that — that — we are engaged? ”’ ‘““ No; I don’t talk of those things. Of course the Denisons and many others suspect it — ”’ “To be sure!” rejoined Juliana, ‘‘ but I agree with you it is much better to say as little as possible on such a subject. How elegantly Mr. Paton is dressed!’’ and this remark she made to endeavourif possible to elicit from the squire the cause of the discrepancy between the youth’s apparel on the present occasion and that which he had worn on the preceding day. “Yes, he dresses with great elegance. But,’ added the squire, laughing, “ it was not exactly so when I first met him yesterday. He told me in confidence what brought him into Lincolnshire, and I should not breathe a syllable to anybody else but yourself — ”’ “Ah! dearest George, you and I, you know,” observed the wily Juliana, with a tender glance, ‘‘ have no secrets from each other, and whatever you may tell me is of course sacred and inviolable.”’ “ Poor fellow!” continued the squire, still speaking in a subdued undertone, “‘ he is over head and ears in love, or rather was — ” Gomicoooks (C(O)