A Heart's Bitterness — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART’S BITTERNESS. — 19 her bridegroom’s breast, as with all her little strength she pushed him from her. Then she turned, threw her arm about Lady Burton’s neck, hid her face on her bosom, and burst into tears. ‘*T think we will do well to leave your countess alone for a time with Lady Burton,” said Sir Roger, calmly. “What do you think of her? What does this mean?” asked Lord Leigh, as he left the room with the physician. ‘‘Simply terror, excitement, a sudden vague alarm,” said Sir Roger, quietly. ‘‘ The feelings of young girls have very singular developments. I am surprised at nothing. Ina little time she will recover herself.” Lord Leigh looked at him narrowly. He had seen, and had he not comprehended the look in Violet’s eyes, the action of her hand? Evidently not. They meant much to Lord Leigh, although he could not reach their cause. Left alone with Violet, Lady Burton gently stroked her hair, seeking to soothe her by silence and tenderness, but full of grievous apprehension. ‘There had been some ter- rible nervous shock, some heart shock. Lady Burton could not be deceived; and the bridegroom, with his anxiety about the effect on others, rather than of his bride—he realized it also. ‘« My sweet, are you better?” said Lady Burton. ‘* No, no, I shall never be better. ‘ake me away—you said you would take me away. ‘Take me to the other side of the world. ‘Take me as if I were your child.” ‘*My darling, if you were my own child I could not take you away now, for you are in another’s keeping. Do you forget—you are to start with your husband for Dover. | ‘¢T will not take the train for Dover!” cried Violet, sharply. «<My love! It is necessary—all arrangements are made.”’ ‘T will not go with that man!” cried Violet again. ‘Violet, what words are these? He is your husband.” ‘*'Tell me,” said the poor young creature, gathering her- self up, in all her pallor and her wedding splendors, ‘‘ have those few words bound me to him forever?” ee ‘‘They have, indeed, made you fully his wife, till death.” shel ‘«¢ Hven though now, already, I know that I have made a ‘great and horrible mistake—been cruelly deceived?” S) Eomichoo (e{@)