The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL: OR, WHO WILL WIN? ii SN te rete “Nota bit. She must be brought to a sense of her proper position in life.” “Her position does her credit, madam.” “Credit! A milliner girl who has to stitch for her living! prospect.” The earl looked very angry, but was prevented from replying by poor Kate, who, at that moment, opened her large blue eyes, and looked up. “*My dear Miss Conway, you must return home; you are ill,” said he. *‘]—am ill—yes,” As she spoke, she turned her face full towards Mrs. Egerton, who could not help acknowledging to herself that the girl was very beautiful. But, then, how could she permit her son to marry a common girl who had to work for a living? The fact is, Mrs. Egerton had for- gotten for the time that her own and her son’s prospects in life had very much altered for the worse lately, and that unless Frank married money he would be compelled to work. With a little more kindness in her manner than before, the widow said— “Now, run home, child, and forget that you have ever seen my son, for I cannot allow you to see him any more.” “Yes, home,” poor Kate repeated. ‘Never see him any more in this world,” and tears again began to stream down the poor, white face. “Do you go a little way with her, my lord, as you seem to be acquainted with her,” Mrs. Egerton whispered to the earl. ‘She will get better when she has walked a little distance.” “T fear you have killed her, broken her heart,” was the reply of Earl Pembridge, as he walked off slowly with his fair charge. Not a word said poor Kate all the way home till they reached the door What a of the little cottage in which she re- sided. “You had better not come dowr to the college again, Miss Conway,” sa.d her escort. “I will bring you news every day, and that will be a fine excuse for coming to see Lizzie.” “ No, no, no; you must not see her again, my lord. She must never feel the pain I have suffered to-day.” “She has promised to be my wife in a few years’ time. When I am twenty- one I will marry her, if my guardians do not allow it before; that is, unless she prefers another.” “Write to me, my lord, and tell me how he is. I may not see him, but she cannot hinder me from loving him.” So saying, she entered the house, proceeded straight to her bed-room, threw herself on the bed, and sobbed herself to sleep. The earl walked back to where he had left Mrs. Egerton. “Hasshegone home?” that ladyasked. ‘¢She has, madam.” “T am glad of that. How absurd to think of marrying my son! they are but children, both.” ‘JT am not so old as Frank, but I shall marry her sister.” Mrs. Egerton looked perfectly as- tounded. ‘¢ Nonsense !” “Tt is a fact. IRfmy guardians do not consent, I shall wait till I am twenty-one, and celebrate my coming of age by marrying a milliner girl, who has to stitch for a living.” “Marry a milliner! Impossible!” “Nevertheless such an event will take place within the next six years, unless death interferes. My prospects in life does not so much depend up- on what matrimonial alliance I make as Frank’s.” Poor Mrs. Egerton was completely dumbfounded. Cor Ries 3 EO DOC EO mn