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322 A STBANGE CHANCE.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
V _ Chapter I. On A Cloudless Morning 1 ...
without their revelations-would never have been suspected . _Regarding him attentively , you found also that a ruddy color in his
cheekswhich at first mig , ht have been mistaken for a steady indication , of robust healthwas a somewhat more wavering * and
uncertain sign . It came , and went with that hectic brightness and instabilitwhich are the fatal insignia of consumption .
Withdrawing y his eyes from their upward contemplation , George Gilbert ' s attention was arrested by something so golden and
shiningthat it seemed like a materialization of the sunny air around him . This was the curling hair of a smalldelicately-formed boy , who was
standing with another boy , seeming , ly a little older than himself , and much coarser in appearanceand both looking- with eyes full of
, longing through the window of a shop where many dangerous temptations in the form of candies and sweet cakes were displayed .
The fair-haired child lifted up his face inquiringly when George Gilbert halted by his side , and as the little uplifted face came fully
in view , the latter gave a start of mingled surprise and pain . His eyes became suffused with a dewy softness of love and tender
regret , and caressingly passing his fingers through the child's bright curls , he remained for some moments gazing earnestly
upon him . out _" for Well something , my little to fellows spend , " your he said half at pence length in , ? " are What _yoxx is looking it to
be ? That gingerbread horse , or that fine barley-sugar wheelbarrow ? "
The childrenwho had hold of hands , looked in each other ' s faces and laughed , then shyly hung down their headsthen lifted
them up again and , peeped sideways at their questioner , , halfinclined to be friendlybut without giving any reply .
At that moment a tid , y looking woman , with a basket containing a few vegetables , came out of the shop , and they ran towards her .
She put her arm around them , and looked pleasantly upon the gentleman , who she perceived with quick instinct had been kindly
noticing them . " You have two fine little fellows there" remarked George ,
again drawing towards the one who had so , strangely interested himand with the same caressing action as before . " What
beautiful , hair" lie continuedless to the woman than musingly to ,, himself "Aye ; poor " beautiful little thing , beautiful , " said ! the " woman , in a tone of pity ; " he ' s
, _£ with i smart There the , was p great rett something y dissimilarity little lad in enoug the of h the manner . !" two children of this speech before whi him ch , , and joined the
. strong one of the resemblance twocaused between George the Gilbert woman to and say , the " There coarser is - no looking
mistaking who this , sturdy little fellow belongs to , but this other does not " own Oh his I ' m mother not his so mother well . " sir / 7 said the womanwith a meaning
, , , shake of the head ; < e he's not mine , sir !"
322 A Stbange Chance.
322 A STBANGE CHANCE .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Jan. 1, 1861, page 322, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01011861/page/34/
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