Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 396: what you’re looking at

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

-MR. DENISON 379 the same authority with which his own father would have spoken, and with an equal amount of true paternal kind- ness. He therefore hesitated not to obey the suggestion he had received, and placing himself at the writing-table, he took up a pen. But when he had written the first line he felt totally unable to proceed; his ideas were rapidly falling *nto confusion, and he was at a loss for the most fitting lan- guage wherein to shape the document. ‘“‘ Suffer me to prompt you as to what you ought to say,” observed Mr. Denison, and as Frank acquiesced, the old gentleman proceeded to dictate a letter couched in terms of the most cutting severity. “Do you not think that this is going somewhat too far?”’ - inquired Frank, presently stopping short. “ Would you use delicate language and mincing phrase- ology toward a creature of such a stamp?’”’ demanded Mr. Denison with something like sternness in his accents. ‘‘ Un- derstand me well, Frank, I wish you to write such a letter that Miss Farefield, notwithstanding all her effrontery, will never dare molest you again. Indeed, if she possesses one single spark of pride, she will endeavour to banish you from her thoughts.”’ “But is this generous,’ has perhaps loved me? ”’ “Love!” ejaculated Mr. Denison. ‘“‘ Desecrate not the term by using it in such a sense. Is it possible that you can endeavour to blind yourself to the full extent of Juliana’s profligacy? No, I think too well of you to entertain such an injurious opinion.” ‘Proceed, sir, proceed,” said Frank; “I am in your hands.”’ Mr. Denison continued the dictation of the letter, and in a few minutes it was brought to a conclusion. “ Now,” he said, as he locked it up in his desk, “ we will return to the drawing-room.” “ But one word more, my dear sir,’ said Frank. “ Mr. Hawkshaw, is he to be made aware of all this? Does he already know as much as yourself? In a word —”’’ “Mr. Hawkshaw,” interrupted the old gentleman, “ will not, I think, speak to you any more upon the subject, and you yourself will scarcely revive it in his presence. ‘To- morrow morning you are to start for London, and much ) asked Frank, ‘‘ toward one who CONNIE DOOKS (EO)