A Heart's Bitterness — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

We ‘. ‘ A HEART’S BITTERNESS. 3 ‘Perhaps I do love Lord Leigh; he is very—nice,” said Violet, meditatively, but the tone made Lady Burton’s heart sink with fear; while the girl added quickly, ‘*‘ And really, he is, I think, very fond of me. He has asked me three times ‘“Fond of you!” cried Lady Burton, ‘*‘ could any man in his senses be less than fond of such an innocent, winsome creature as you, Violet?” ‘You see, he is so rich, I feel as if he canlove me for — myself,” said Violet, witha flush. ‘* He cannot be fortune- . hunting. Irespect Lord Leigh. I like him; and when I i get used to the idea, I think, Lady Burton, I am capable of loving.” ‘« My darling, you were born to love—warmly.” ‘¢ But, if I found he had deceived me—not loved me for myself—oh, how unutterably I should hate him, or any : one.” Lady Burton trembled at the girl’s tone and her pallor. ‘Tt is not likelyin his case. But, Violet, do delay this © marriage.” ‘““No, no; it is too late. I cannot endure this being — hunted. No, I must take myrisk now, before I am hunted to death.” | CHAPTER III. THE SMITTEN BRIDE. Leaving Violet in the hands of maids and modistes, Lady Burton went down stairs with the effusive Mrs. Ainslie at her side. | ‘‘Dear Lady Burton, I hope you are pleased. If we had had your address you should have been the first to be fore- _ warned, but, then, it has really been very sudden, and Violet was going to you this morning.” ‘¢ But what was the occasion of so hasty a decision?” asked Lady Burton, calmly. ‘I had hoped Violet, in her peculiar position, would wait a year or two.” | ‘‘Oh, Lady Burton, a year or two! Howcan you! Las- sure you Henry and I would both be in our graves with anxiety. He is more weighed down by the care of her for- tune than by all his other business. And as for me, I can ¥ ‘ Eomicbooks:-co