A Heart's Bitterness — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART’S BITTERNESS. 91 we met, I think the love I had for you was but a child’s fancy, after all? Let me be your sister, Norman, and we shall better than reach our early dream.” He bent to kiss the white, warm softness of the little | hand she extended, and the touch thrilled him. Oh, could the future hold for him any possibility of making this divine creature his? Surely not, if now he alarmed her by profier of forbidden passion. He must school himself to calm. ‘Edna, those days we spent together in Cornwall are the blessed memories of my life.” ‘* They were very sweet,” she said. ‘‘I was a lonely girl, and it was so charming to have a friend like you, liking all I liked, giving me glimpses of a wider world.” ‘‘Let us renew those days here in Sussex,” he said. _ We can renew the friendship and intercourse of the past. You shall be again my lovely friend.” ‘‘And your wife’s,” said Edna. ‘““Yes. Weare to have some friends at the Towers. I want a gay, bright party, full of joy and good-will. You will join them as our guest, will you not? You will have books, music, poetry, flowers, pictures, all that you love. We will crowd the days with festivities and rural excursions. You will not refuse me, Edna?” : ‘Certainly not, when your wife invites me. I should enjoy it of all things. Jam resolved to love her.” ‘<She will come to see you at once,” said Leigh. To him the sound of Edna’s voice, the glance of her eyes, _ was a heaven undreamed of before. He thought he should be entirely happy meeting her in the daily life of his home. It remained but to cover his mad wish for her presence by — inviting a party. Next day he said to Violet: ‘“T fear we shall grow dull here. I need stimulus—so- ciety. Let us ask Tom Churchill and Grace Hanshaw for a visit.” “© Oh, I shall be so glad to have them,” said Violet. ‘And Keith and his mother.” ‘*No, no,” said Violet, in afright. ‘‘No, they cannot come. ‘They must stay at the castle for a while.” | ‘All right. We must have some one to matronize the party. You are too young for achaperon. What do you say to giving a welcome here to your Aunt Ainslie and your cousins?” < (e(e) comicbooks