Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

316 REYNOLDS’ WORKS permission, write and tell me whatsoever you-may have to — unfold. In the meanwhile you are a welcome guest here, and I hope that the friendship which has thus commenced will last throughout our lives. And now for the amusements of the day.” “Yesterday, Mr. Hawkshaw,” observed Frank, ‘ you denied yourself the pleasure of paying a visit to your in- tended bride, and from all that I noticed, you did not see her last evening at the ball — “Oh, you sly dog,” ae the squire, with a loud ed soutewhias boisterous laugh; ‘‘ you were looking out, were you, to see if I paid particular attention in any quarter? ”’ “No, Mr. Hawkshaw,’’ was Frank’s quick response; ‘““T am incapable of undue curiosity. But what I meant you to infer was, that I did not see you pay any such particular attention, for if you had, I could not have failed to observe it. Taking it for granted, then, that you did not see your intended bride last night, I cannot possibly think of being so selfish as to engross you all to myself. Therefore you must pay your accustomed visit, and I shall indulge in a ramble through your beautiful grounds.” | “No, my young friend,’’ replied Hawkshaw, smiling, “ I do not mean to leave you to yourself, or throw you so com- pletely on your own resources. I have already despatched a note which will leave me free to remain altogether with you. So now, if you please, we will take a scamper and shake off the effects of last night’s dissipation.” There was no possibility of offering any further remon- strance to the good-natured squire’s plan of proceedings, and Frank accordingly suffered him to have his own way. In respect to writing to his father, he said that this would be unnecessary, as he must positively start for London on the ensuing morning. The horses were saddled; he and the squire rode forth, and several hours were passed in the same manner as on the preceding day. At four o’clock they returned to the Hall to dress for dinner, and a little before five the old-fashioned carriage was in readiness to take them to Mr. Denison’s. On arriving there, they received the kindest weleome from their host and hostess, by both of whom Frank was especially made much of. It was a small party, the other guests consisting only of some of Mr. Denison’s own family. GEomicbooks.com