Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

THE CONSERVATORY 360 fectly compatible with her complexion and her style of beauty. Indeed, it served to set it off to the utmost advantage. She usually wore her hair in bands, but this evening she appeared with it showering in myriads of luxuriant ringlets down upon her shoulders. Oh, how bright was the gloss upon that raven hair! How it shone with a natural glory, allits own! A single camellia with a circlet of pearls made it look darker than the darkest night, and yet it was a lustrous cloud which thus framed the superb countenance. ‘The low corsage of the dress displayed the sculptural richness of the bust; the excitement of the dance and of her own feelings sent the rich blood glowing and mantling upon her cheeks. Altogether she appeared of a more splendid beauty on this occasion than ever she had seemed before in the eyes of Francis Paton. He felt troubled and bewildered, fully aware that the spell of almost irresistible fascinations was upon him, yet equally well-knowing that it was his duty to shake them off, and more than hali-fearing, as he had thought on the previous day, that this splendid creature was but a snake wearing the loveliest skin. ‘““ And now, Frank,” she said, ina low, melting, murmuring voice, and fixing upon him those lustrous eyes that: were brimful of passion, ‘* you have some words to address to me. Remember that we cannot remain too long here, we shall be missed, we shall be sought after — ” “Miss Farefield,’”’ responded the youth, endeavouring to speak as coldly and collectedly as he could, “I will not detain you many minutes.” ‘““ Wherefore do you address me in this formal manner? ”’ she asked, with reproachful look and voice. ‘“‘Am I no longer Juliana to you? ”’ ‘How can you be?” exclaimed Frank, at this moment feeling that he had regained complete power over himself, as all the incidents in the arbour on the preceding day trooped through his mind. ‘ Did you not tell me that you meant to marry another? By what right, then, can I address you with the insolence of familiarity?’ “ Insolence — familiarity! Oh, dearest Frank, is it pos- sible that such words as these are to pass between us? ”’ “ Listen, Miss Farefield,’’ interrupted the youth, drawing himself up in a dignified manner. “ Yesterday I offered you my hand, and you refused it. It is therefore as a re- CONnNIEDOOKS (S(O)