Lady Evelyn — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

-* Mutual Confession. - O30: not have wrung from that haughty breast had he struck her down at his feet. He was at hers the instant after it was uttered. “Oh, forgive me!” he cried. “I am a wretch, a merci- less brute! Evelyn, dearest, look up, speak to me, pardon me if you can!” She obeyed him, looking up, ashen white. | “I deserve it,’ she answered, huskily. “But spare him. I will never look upon his face again. And the blame is all mine, not his.” “No man is to blame for loving you. Dear Lady Eve- lyn, forgive me. I knew all this before you told me, and —J think you ten times more of an angel than ever. He deserves to win what I could not keep. He is a better, a braver, a truer man than I. He has suffered greatly and endured silently. He is worthy of you, and l—am Tot, She dropped her hands and looked at him in white amaze. Was this Vivian Trevannance talking, or was she ina dream? “Two hours ago, Lady Evelyn, I lay yonder under the drawing-room windows, and inadvertently played’ the eavesdropper. A confession quite as humiliating as your own, is it not? I heard Drummond’s first words to you, your reply, and I was chained to the spot; I could not stir. I heard all. I knew he had won the greatest prize man ever fought or died for—the heart of the purest and noblest, the most beautiful of women. And, Lady Eve- lyn, I free you from your promise. I honor you as [ never honored any woman since my mother died, and Robert Drummond shall be the friend dearest to me while life lasts.” She still stood looking at him in that stupor of pale amaze. ‘Why did I not know you sooner?” she said, under her breath. mk He smiled. 3 “We were not for each other. Dearest Lady Evelyn, you remember the gypsy Redempta’s words to me on the day we first met, and again, a few hours back, on the race- course?” “Yes—no. I paid no heed. I have forgotten. She spoke of—’’ “Some one, loved and left, over the sea. Lady Evelyn,