A Fair Fraud — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

A Fair Fraud ~— 157 he had desired for his wife, but a woman smirched and blackened already by some odious intrigue in the past, the shameful consequences of which were now dogging her footsteps with retributive vengeance. ‘And I thought you so good!’ he exclaimed bitterly. ‘I believed you to be the best as well as the most beautiful woman I had ever known!’ and at his heart he added, ‘ Thank God, you refused me!’ He looked round at her with a sudden rage. Hester had sunk into a chair, and with arms outstretched across the table and head laid low upon them, was crying bitterly. His anger gave way a little at the sight —it was so piteous—so very sad to see her thus! He paused by her chair, and laid his hand gently upon the gold of her fallen hair. ‘Poor girl, poor girl!’ he murmured com- passionately. She lifted her head and dashed away the tears from her eyes. ‘Don’t—don’t—be kind!’ she faltered. ‘I can bear it better if you are harsh!’ For a few seconds neither spoke, then she broke out passionately, ‘After all, I have done you no injury. Did I not refuse to marry you when you asked me to-day? Did I not tell you that nothing | on earth would induce me to be your wife? - ECOMU«EDOO© <S (GO) uu