A Heart's Bitterness — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

262 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. ~ perscription of the other letter, which she dropped into her lap. She cried, eagerly: ‘<Now, Edna, we shall hear what he says. Oh, I hope he has appointed wise and good guardians for my boy!” \ ‘‘T am sure he has,” said Edna, dropping her work. ‘‘He would not do otherwise, as he is a wise and good man.” Violet began to read aloud. After some general con- dolences, and compliments, and explanations, that he would have come to her at the Towers, had he not been a prisoner to the gout, the Lord Chancellor went on to say: ‘“You have committed to me a very important trust, that of selecting suitable guardians for the heir of one of the oldest titles and finest estates in England. Your child will have a long minority, over twenty years. It is neces- _ sary that I should not appoint old men for his guardians, but those who may hope to see him attain his majority. I would desire men of large, liberal, kindly natures, who would have sympathy with their ward, and obtain his love and confidence. JI should seek men of lofty ideas, pure lives, unsullied integrity, examples to him of all the virtues they should inculcate. I have thought deeply upon the choice of these, my ideal guardians; but, high as is the standard I have set, I think I have chosen men who attain to it. I have spoken to them, and they have agreed to ac- cept the trust. They are the Marquis of Alwood and Lord Kenneth Keith.” Violet dropped the letter, and the two young women looked at each other across the fatherless babe, who, uncon- scious of the questions at stake, lay on the floor between them, playing with a gold coral and bells. <A flood of crim- son rose over Hidna’s fair face and throat, at this unexpected encomium and mention of the man she deeply loved. Vio- let grew paler still, in contrast with her crape, and under _ the widow’s cap, which hid all the shining rings of her Bae hair. She turned her eyes to Rupert, and said, soitly: | ““T know LordiKeith loves the child. He said he would always be his friend; and he saved him his estate.” ‘* No doubt it is a good choice,” said Edna, taking up her work again, and making various sudden resolutions, as she sewed little stitches. (e(0) Gomicbooks