A Heart's Bitterness — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART’S BITTERNESS. | : 29 seemed to her so quiet that she believed it was empty. She did not know that love lay in it, fallen asleep in a lon silence, but ready to awake. Her heart was like a fair an quiet room, where one enters and says it is tenantless, but where, instead, an occupant, hidden under draperies, lies in slumber, ready, at a footfall or a word, to rouse and come forth. Leigh was polite, largely indulgent; all he asked was that his young countess should enjoy herself in her own way, and let him go his, understanding meanwhile, that neither of them should go particularly astray. Violet, before her Montressor relatives came, had but few casual acquaintances in Paris, and sometimes, when in her drives and visits she had seen things, that stirred her heart, her young, enthusiastic nature would gush over into descriptions of these things, even to her unresponsive husband, as they were alone at table, or waiting in the gloaming to go to the opera. | ‘* How can you be so excited over such things?” said Lord Leigh. ‘It takes much more to stir my blood. And I don’t know as it is good form for you to go wandering about the Louvre, talking to artists, and then going to visit studios. JI have my doubts about the tone of these fellows in velvet coats. Itisa pity your Aunt Montressor would not come over here soon, to go out with you. And Lady Clare; you should model yourself on Lady Clare, Violet. She is very good style.” - Violet’s pride took fire. She had been the petted darl- ing of her kindred, and never told to model herself on any one. And Lady Clare, too! She had heard Lord Leigh’s name connected with that of Lady Clare. Her jealousy awoke. | “‘T don’t like Lady Clare’s style,” she said; ‘‘nordol like Lady Clare. We have never been intimate. She is five years older than Iam. I am aware you like her style. I have heard you spoken of as her admirer.” ** So I was—at one time,” said Leigh, coolly. ‘¢ Why did you not marry her, then? Would she not have you?” demanded Violet, in her wrath. ‘¢ Oh, she would have had me, fast enough,” said Leigh, in his confident tone. ‘* Lady Clare is looking for a party, — and she knows she has neither fortune nor beauty. But she has high birth, and a stately, haughty style that I like.” (E(@) Gcomicbooks