Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 387: what you’re looking at

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

370 REYNOLDS’ WORKS and sophistries, blandishments and appeals, which the siren had put in play, —in another moment, we say, he would have yielded, he would have succumbed. His eyes were already bent adoringly upon Juliana, he was drinking deeper and quicker draughts of Lethean bliss from her own warm and glowing regards, his arm was tightening around her, he was on the point of straining her to his breast, and mur- muring the affirmative which would have been so delicious _ to her ears and so fatal to his own happiness, when all in an instant the sound of a footstep and a loud cough startled them both up from the trance of their feelings. Rapid as lightning was the look which Juliana flung upon Frank, to bid him summon all his self-possession, as she collected hers; and the next instant she said, as calmly and quietly as if there had been no excitement of feelings, no whirlwind of emotions, ‘‘ Yes, as you were observing, Mr. Paton, this is indeed a rare collection of plants.” The next moment Mr. Hawkshaw made his appearance from behind the mass of evergreens and exotic verdure. The first thought that flashed to the mind alike of Frank and Juliana was that he had overheard all, for his counte- nance looked pale. But this apprehension was cleared up almost as soon as formed, when he said, ur his usual offhand, open-hearted manner, “ Well, you have sought the coolest spot, and really I am not surprised, for those rooms are suffocating.”’ ‘“T could not endure the heat any longer,” said Juliana, “and I requested Mr. Paton to accompany me hither for afew minutes. I felt as if I were about to faint — ” ‘Indeed! I am truly sorry to hear that,” ejaculated the squire, with a look of concern. “I hope you feel better now?” “Yes, much, much,’’ responded Juliana. ‘“‘ And now I shall take your arm, Mr. Hawkshaw, and accompany you back into the saloon. Mr. Paton,’ she added, turning around and flinging a rapid but significant look upon the youth, “ I have not forgotten that you have engaged me to dance again in the third quadrille after the one which is next to take place.”’ Frank bowed, and Juliana, with a graceful salutation in ‘acknowledgment, took Mr. Hawkshaw’s arm. “ You are coming with us, are you not, Paton? ” said the ) — Gomiechbooks (E(0)