A Heart's Bitterness — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART'S BITTERNESS. | 53 At this moment she saw on the distant end of the bal- cony a glittering point, which she knew must represent Leigh’s cigar, as he took his after-dinner smoke. She went boldly to him. ‘“ Why did you bring me here to-day, Norman?” ‘I thought you would enjoy it.” ‘“‘ Was it to take me away from any one? ‘To prevent my seeing some one?” . Lord Leigh took his cigar from his lips, and there was a little silence, then he said: ) , ‘Really, Violet, that is a most absurd inquiry. I wish you were not so suspicious. It is very unbecoming in one so young, and in a wife.” 7 ‘*I only desire to say to you,” said Violet, “that if you do not wish me to see any one, or have evil thoughts of any one, | would rather you would deal with me openly.” “* Put such folly out of your head,” said Lord Leigh. #* I assure you lam afraid of nobody.” Still, the idea that he was jealous about Keith lin- gered, and unluckily, kept her thoughts with Keith most of that night. At breakfast she was made ashamed of these suspicions, and, being ashamed, became more kind to her husband, to atone for the injury done him in her hasty thoughts. Hesaid to Lady Clare: $ : ‘¢ Have you seen Lord Keith?—he is in Paris.” ‘*T hardly know him,” said Lady Clare. ‘He is a mighty fine fellow. He called on us the other day, only I was out. Why doesn’t he come again, Violet? Did you frighten him off with your cold ways? I must look himup. It will be nice to have him come to our box at the theatre or opera, so I can stroll round to the others, to— see Lady Clare and the rest of the people.” Evidently he had no jealousy or ill thoughts of Keith. Perhaps he had come to Sevres just to amuse her, ‘Thus Violet blushed for herself, and tried to find more virtues in her indifferent husband. In fact, for the next few days after they returned to Paris he attended her much more closely than before. They went to the Park Monceaux one afternoon, and leaving the carriage at the gate, strolled : avout the walks looking after the flowers, children, and water-fowl. . Glancing about, as they rested on a rustic seat, Violet saw Miss Hope, her proposed embroidery mistress, seated (e(e) a -comicbooks