His Other Wife: A Novel — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

LEDA’S HOST. | 363 Warren could have wept over her, if tears could have eased the deep wound; but he said compassionately, yet with serious dignity : ‘‘How you wrong yourself, when you feel and speak like that.” ‘‘Ah, my God! place yourself as I am, and you will not wonder that I feel and speak like that !” She uttered the words with a choking, sobbing voice, and put her head down on her knees in a convulsion of passionate weeping. It was all very unwomanly and unworthy for her to act so—to accept dependence and then revile herself for it; but, remembering all that her life had been, Warren pitied her with a brave man’s strong pity. He rose, flung away his cigar, and, walking to where she sat, bowed and shaken, he rested his hand on her chair, and said, softly: ‘‘Be patient, my sister; it is all very dreadful for you now, I know, but there is never anything in lifeso bad but that with courage and endurance we may amend it. Be worthy of yourself and your proud old name. You are unfortunate, but not dishonored; command for yourself the respect of the world who has witnessed your calamity, and, perhaps, is mean enough to be glad of it. Assert the only true sovereignty of noble birth, and show your- self nobler and stronger than the herd who would trample your former prestige in the dust of your present misfor- tunes. I will help you.” | ‘‘Ah! what can I do?” she sobbed, drearily, Eomicbooks: (E(0) 3