A Heart's Bitterness — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

12: A HEART’S BITTERNESS. - taught to suspect them all. I have refused ten; ten who hardly knew me! It was too dreadful!” ‘Violet, are you sure you so much prefer this man to : « others, that he will always be your preference?” ** Lady Burton,” said Violet, erecting her pretty head, «1 should never fail to do my duty!” _ © Bear with me while I search your heart. We human beings are so weak, beyond our dream, that sometimes we are betrayed by ourselves, before we are aware. Isit a joy, a content, tothink of spending your life with Lord Leigh? The years of our life may be many and long. While youth is glowing, while maturity ripens, while age comes on, will ou be content to spend your life in the shadow of this man’s ove, and within the circle of his arm?” ~T suppose so,” said Violet, hesitatingly, and with a _ troubled look, ‘“‘I have as yet thought of it only in this > « wee oi ga way. I shall be.safe only in my own home, and no longer the golden apple of conflict between the Ainslies and Mon- tressors. My poor, kind aunt will not longer be victimized _-and tortured by the Montressor aunts on my behalf, my uncle will no longer assure me that he is getting gray in caring for my dreadful millions. I will no longer be pur- sued for my millions, and having old menand young, good and bad—men I hardly know by sight—flinging themselves - at my feet, and protest they desire only my love, and to hear Uncle Henry say: solemnly, ‘Another, Violet! This isthe sixth, eight, tenth, as the case may be, just as if I were the boldest coquette; and aunt reply, with a groan, __. * poor dear, what can you expect?” > —**¥es, my child, I understand. This is a little evil pic- ture, that comes linked with your great fortune. But do you love your chosen husband enough to yield to his wishes; * to prefer his wishes to your own, to seek first his comfort? To make his comfort the study of your life, as heretofore _ your own comfort has been?” —** Must Ido all that?” said Violet, innocently. ‘< These expectations and plans seem natural to real love.” ‘“* Perhaps they will come in time?” suggested Violet. ‘* Love can and does grow if cherished. Butlet me warn you, dear, that no woman, not even an unloved wife, is so unhappy as an unloving wife. Love and _ self-sacrifice _bring their own consolations. I see no comfort for the wife who does not love.” Eomicbooks (E(0)