A Heart's Bitterness — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

on , 208 A HEART'S BITTERNESS. He had not been there since the fatal day when Bart Kemp had come there to him. 7 . When he entered the upper room, the sunlight was fall- ing over the leopard-skin lounge, and over Helen Hope, who lay there asleep. : CHAPTER XLVI. ‘‘OH, WHO WILL HELP ME TO AVENGE MYSELF?” When Leigh entered ‘‘ The Folly,” Helen woke, brushed back the hair that had fallen over her brow, and sat up. ‘¢ Here again, Helen!” said Leigh. ‘‘I supposed that by this time your useless pursuit of me would have ended. Why are you in this room?” ‘‘ Because it is yours,” said Helen. ‘* Because it brings - me nearer to you—reminds me of you—and I knew you would come here.” © ‘‘ Helen,” said Leigh, quietly, seating himself in his easy- chair, leaning back, and speaking with much self-control, “let us talk reasonably. You are a young, handsome, am- bitious woman. With your appearance and accomplish- ments, you can, no doubt, secure a marriage that will place you in a good position. Come, now, I will give you money that will support you handsomely for two years. In that time, you can make a place in some large, thriving town, and make a good marriage. Or, if you wish to marry a man. who would go to the colonies, I will use my influence to se- cure him a good appointment under Government.” Helen’s cheek burned, and her eyes shot flames, but she answered, steadily: ‘Norman, that would not make me a countess, nor give me you !/” si ‘‘ Are you still cherishing that idle dream?” said Leigh. ‘‘ You have hinted, yes, plainly spoken, of death or divorce as freeing me of my countess. J wish you to understand me. Violet is in sound health; she takes care of herself; she has renewed life in her child, and is likely to survive me, which would only be the survival of the fittest. As for divorce, |‘want you to remember that Violet is a good, pure woman———” | | : | . _ ** But,” interrupted Helen, ‘‘ you can leave her. If you go to the Continent with me, she could demand a divorce.” (E(@) Eomicbooks