A Heart's Bitterness — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

220 | A HEART’S BITTERNESS. ‘Tt is a plan, then?” said Helen, eagerly. ‘‘T don’t think I ever could have quite come up to the point of trying it merely to revenge myself. I should only have frightened him a little. Do you realize, that to gratify your wish for vengeance, I risk a life in the penal settlements?” ‘<But you will succeed, and then you earn—life with me,” said Helen, bending toward him. ‘«* ]’ll risk it,” he said, clasping her for one moment close in his arms. They wandered back along the way they had come. Helen leaned on Kemp’s arm and strove by every wile to bind him to her interest. _ *©You have always been poor, I think,” he said. «‘Listen to me,” said Helen. ‘‘I have not only been oor, but I have not a known nor legal relative in the world. am a nameless, miserable foundling. ‘‘That is nothing to me,” said Kemp, hotly. ‘* Your beauty and spirit are your dower. You are, I am sure, ac- complished.” ‘“So they say, in all that makes a governess—music, drawing, languages, dancing,” said Helen, with a sneer. ‘Those things are better than a name,” cried Kemp. «“T love you for yoursclf. But once more I urge you. Let us leave England, which has used you hardly. Let us go without flight or risk. We can me married by special - license. Come, forsake this old, bitter life, and try a life of better things.” ‘Once and for all—revenge on Leigh, or farewell !” said Helen, with fury. ‘“* Let it be revenge, then,” said Kemp, leaving her at the - gate. | But, left alone, what floods of torture surged over Helen’s soul! Leigh had once spoken words of love, and they had been music to her heart; they had been only words of guile and pretense. ‘This man, she knew, spoke the language of a sincere, if a sudden passion. He made her honorable offers; he would lavish on her such tenderness as she wasted on Leigh, and he would ask in return only the cold crumb of endurance. Yet for this man’s passion she had only aver- sion to return. | ; | After a troubled night, she dispatched a messenger—an Gomicbooks (E(@)