A Heart's Bitterness — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

‘No sooner had the plumes of the riders, and the parti- colored parasols of the landau disappeared along the road, than his headache disappeared with them, and he made straight for the little villa of Miss Whately. ‘The sound of a piano, softly played, led his steps to a : window opening to the ground, and draped within with white lace, and. without with climbing roses in abundant bloom. In the cool and shaded apartment the graceful figure of Edna Ambrose, and the golden glory of her hair were seen. | _ Leigh stood watching her for a few moments, until the mysterious consciousness of a fixed gaze drew the player -to turn around, and she rose. | gE ‘Is Miss Whately at home? I have not had time until now to call upon my old friend,” said Leigh, smoothly. ‘* My aunt went to London this morning,” replied Edna. That was no news to Lord Leigh. It was the accidental hearing that Miss Whately had been seen buying a ticket for London at the station that morning which had given him his suddenly cured headache, and turned his feet to- ward Rose Lodge. When Edna answered him, he dropped uninvited into a chair, leaned back his head among the cushions, and said: ‘“ How cool, and calm, and sweet it is here! so very much better than the Towers, with its lively crowd. Did you not meet some of our visitors the other day?” ‘Yes; a most charming elderly lady; she saw me sketch- -_ing; and, though I am shy of strangers, she won me before I was aware. And then her son came up—a very handsome young man—a kingly Saxon. He should sit as a model for a King Alfred’s youth.” - Leigh ground his teeth with rage. _. Don’t speak so!” he cried. ‘* He may be dancing at- ___tendance on my wife, but I cannot hear yow praising him. __ It drives me mad!” | ‘IT do not understand you,” said Edna, coldly. “ May not amere friend praise whom she pleases? And if he attends too closely on your wife, is it not that you abandon her to any attention that may come her way? Why are you not with that lovely young wife this minute?” | ‘* Because I wanted to see you; because your voice is as - music of heaven, and your face an angel’s to me. Oh, * Hat a ke idna, how much rather would I be living with you in such ge Pe C9 =< Seen) ae . _ why & is Sy 4 | | comicbooks.co