A Heart's Bitterness — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

172 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. was distracted by Leigh’s indifference, in regard to the _ search for his wife. ‘‘I warn you, Leigh,” he said, ‘‘ that as an Englishman and a peer, it will be my duty to notify the police if Lady Leigh is not found within a week.” ““T am going to Sussex myself to look for her,” said Leigh. Edna passed the time in self-reproach, findiug the cause of Violet’s flight in her own concealed name. ‘hen, in the dephts of her despair, she received the dispatch, and telling Lady Burton that she had been called to a friend in distress, bade her ‘‘ good-by for a day or two.” Her preparations were swift and simple. ‘T’nen she wrote a note to Keith, and gave it to his valet to hand him as soon as he returned, about midnight, as he had promised. ‘The note ran thus: ‘‘My FRIEND AND BrotHerR: Stop your search, and keep silence until you hear from me, within twenty-four hours. I think light has come, and all will be well. EDNA.”’ She sent for a cabso that her movements should not be known in the house, and going to Lord Leigh’s, found that he was in Sussex. ‘'his suited her, for she had no idea of explainmg to him; but taking Kate into her con- fidence she exp!tained as far as she could and they packed a portmanteau of clothes, and Violet’s dressing case. Again In a cab, they went to King’s Cross Station, and with hearts divided between hope and fear, the loving friend and the faithful maid rode northward through the brief sum- mer night. Mistress Rogers, calculating the time of trains care- fully, was sure Miss Ambrose would reach Belper early in the morning, and had instructed her friend, the sta- tion master, to have a gig in readiness to take her to the cottage. | | When Ednaand Kate alighted from the train, they were met by an elderly man, saying: “If you are Miss Ambrose, there isa gig waiting for ou.” | ‘The May morning was sweet and bright, the birds sang, the flowers were all abloom. Dame Rogers’ cottage, with its heavy stretch, where the buttercups and daisies were blooming high in air, the drapery of vines, the golden frame of nasturtium flowers, made a:pretty picture of peace. “Eomichbooks (E(0)