A Heart's Bitterness — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

216 _ A HEART’S BITTERNESS. «“Oh, Norman, cannot you refrain for his sake?” ‘‘T thought I could, but I do not.” «‘ Are you—are you needing money?” ‘‘1’m short of funds, certainly. There are no rents due, and I have been dusedly unlucky. Violet had a terrible dread of her husband’s deadly vice. She shrank from feeding it, by supplying hundreds for the gaming-table. But then, if he were distressed for money, and she had it at hand | She said, timidly: ‘‘ But, Norman, all I have is yours. Uncle Henry has just sent me this quarter’s income, and I have nearly all of the last quarter: I seem to have no use for money. I can- not get rid of it. I ought not to have so much by me. Pray take it. It is hundreds of pounds; and, really, is it not dangerous for me to have it by me? It will keep me awake nights. Please take care of it for me.” ‘Waste it for you, you mean,” said Leigh, bitterly. ‘“‘fam sure you will not do that. You will need it for improvements, traveling hospitality. But take it, use it as you will. Only do not be sad and ill.” She looked so benign, so innocent, so unselfish, that Leigh loathed himself that he was so unworthy of her. He cried out: | ‘‘ Violet, you are a perfect little saint.” “Oh, no; but, Norman, if you could only like me a little, so that as Rupert grows up, he shall see no enmity or division between us, and if you could only be happy, in building up your estates, and your political influence, so that when Rupert comes of age he shall have all that his birth and title seem to promise him, oh, Norman, I should be so content.” ‘“It seems as if I really must make a man of myself for your sake, and the child’s,” said Leigh, slowly. ‘‘ Wait here a minute,” said Violet, eagerly. She ran up the broad stairs, and returned carrying a _ casket of steel and brass. _ 3 With eager little fingers she unlocked it, and poured over the papers on the table, a heap of gold sovereigns, and crisp gray bank-notes._ : ‘There, Norman! You know how to spend it, but I do not. You lay it out for me.” : “Keep it yourself, child, I do not want your money.” (E(@) comicbooks