Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

THE PHYSICIAN AND THE LADY 45 had first seen her in the bloom of her youthful beauty; and as he beheld her now in the glory of her splendid woman- hood, all the freshness of the passion which had been in- spired then was resuscitated now. Yet shuddered he not as he reflected that this woman — the object of his love — was a murderess? Recoiled he not from the presence of her upon whose soul lay the weight of so tremendous a crime? He had felt shocked, but the sentiment of horror was ab- sorbed in the profundity of that strange romantic passion which his heart cherished toward her. It was a passion stronger than himself, — a passion which had no hope and no aim, which subsisted not upon expectation, — but was in itself eternal, deathless, immortal. Yes, it was a love such as the human heart has seldom known, perhaps never knew before. With intense anxiety did Lady Saxondale watch the features of the physician as they stood face to face in the middle of the room. Her experienced eye showed her that he was melting in her favour, and her heart bounded with a feeling of relief and the certainty of triumph. ‘There must have been some terrible circumstances, Lady Saxondale,’”’ he said, at length breaking silence, and speaking slowly, “‘ to have led you on to such a deed as that.” “Yes, terrible circumstances,’ was the quick response, ‘“ but do not force me to give utterance to them.”’ “ One word! ” ejaculated the doctor, as a thought suddenly struck him. ‘‘ When you were at my mother’s house, you had a servant with you whom you called Mary. Was she this same one whose real name appears to have been Mabel? ”’ ‘“ The same,’’ responded Lady Saxondale. “ I begin to understand. She doubtless threatened some exposure with regard to that mystery the purpose of which I have sworn never to penetrate? And therein I will keep my word.” “You have conjectured the whole truth,’ was Lady Saxondale’s reply. ‘‘ And now, my dear Doctor Ferney, may I still regard you as my warmest, my best friend? May I look upon you as my saviour? Oh, do not, do not hesitate to give me this assurance.”’ “ Lady Saxondale,”’ answered the physician, solemnly, “ I fear that for you I am perilling my immortal soul.” ) GOmicdoo Ss (EO)