A Heart's Bitterness — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

mt ee 218 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. From the first of our acquaintance, I never doubted that he had all my heart; I only doubted if I could fill his.” — £€ And though forsaken by him, you will live for him!” ‘<1 will forget him as far as I ought, and asI get strength to forget; but I shall turn to no other. Violet, you and your child shall now be dearest to my heart.” ‘Oh, Edna,” cried Violet, passionately, ‘‘if I had been so true and steadfast, I might have been a happy woman!” She flushed, ashamed that even in closest intimacy she had betrayed the haunting secret of her heart. In con- stant care for her child, she flattered herself often that Keith’s image was finally torn from her heart; but then the light of some hidden experience would flash upon her, and show ’him dearest still. This was agony to her gentle, - eonscientious soul; how could she blame her husband for anything, when she knew that he was not first and sole in her affection? But lying awake that night, mournfully thinking of her friend, sheremembared that she had told Leigh of Alwood’s year of probation; she recalled how he had been mad after Edna, and how dark and secret were his methods, and a terrible revelation flashed upon her. | | It was Norman, her husband, who had destroyed the hap- piness of Edna, and she herself it was who had given him opportunity to break Edna’s heart. Violet knew Lord Leigh well enough to realize that all upbraiding, all reproach or accusation would but harden him. If she would bring him to repentance, to undoing evil, it must be by gentle methods. If he had, as she be- _heved, been the means of angering Lord Alwood against Hdna, he must be persuaded to undo his work. She reflect- ed that he now felt not unkindly toward herself, and she must make use of his kindness to aid Edna. Such were her thoughts during the early, wakeful hours of morning, but the time had not yet come for saying what she would say of Edna. She must lead up to that by gentle degrees; the theme was most delicate. Alas! while she waited to feel her way, the hour of Leigh’s opportunity passed by forever. . ; (E(0) comicbooks