Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

THE CONSERVATORY 367 late you, and all the more so, because, as you remember, I foresaw it. I all along knew, from the very first moment I beheld you, that you were above your condition, infinitely above it. You told me as much of your history which you yourself knew at the time. Do you not mean to make me your confidante in respect to the remainder? Who is your father, Frank? Do not think that I ask out of mere curi- osity — ”’ “Miss Farefield, I cannot tell you now. Suffice it to say that his title is that of a marquis.”’ ‘Miss Farefield — still Miss Farefield,’ she murmured, reproachfully and sorrowfully; ‘is the rupture then com- plete between us? Oh, Frank, I forgive you for the cruel test to which you put me yesterday; will not you forgive me for what fell from my lips? You say that your parents are acquainted with our love; was it they who suggested that you should put me to such a test? ”’ ‘Tt was,” rejoined Frank. “ I donot attempt to deny it. But pray understand me. That test I regarded as conclusive. I fled from you in disappointment, in despair. I did not pause to tell you that the representations I had made were false, that I had purposely apparelled myself in mean clothing to give a colour to my story; I did not wait to tell you all this, because I was not master of my feelings at the time. But subsequently, on calmer reflection, I felt that I could not leave Lincolnshire without giving you the fullest ex- planations. I did not wish to pass in your eyes as a miserable, needy adventurer, seeking a patrician marriage as the step- ping-stone to better fortunes. I felt that if you looked upon me in this light you would have but too good reason te despise me, and to rejoice that you had refused me your hand. But this is what I wish you to understand, — that inasmuch as you loved me when I was poor and humble and obscure I felt proud and rejoiced at the thought that fortune had suddenly placed me in a position when I might on terms of equality offer you my hand. Ah! had you told me yester- . day, Juliana, — Miss Farefield, I mean, — that no matter how poor and humble I might still be, you would sacrifice everything to become my wife, how different would our feel- ings be at this moment! Now I have no more to say. Let me conduct you back into the other rooms.”’ “ No, not yet, Frank, not yet!’’ murmured Juliana, again GoOmicdoo ‘cS (S(O)