Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

or / \ % : ae %, a j - ma i’ , dy 4 4 Py * i pine ie ee ‘3 Ba i he x Bi A pn i rae eres aes eS ile goal Cc hs aay Nery f ; r ‘ ty rs er * 7 >> f / he! . 5 oe oe y . bat > ‘ Ley . 7: \ 1 ‘an. “ : ¢ r hes Ld —t) ae 4 | gl ee a i ve ; Kye ke pi \ ’ ta hy ee a i] OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 937 only loved him sincerely, she would not have wearied of his companionship, but such constant. presence is the test of true love, and Miss Wainwright was found wanting. General Wainwright had paid his congratulatory visit to Lady Mary, and the pair had enjoyed it vastly, their parental anxieties laid aside, picturing the happy future of their children. It was mutually understood that the sooner the wedding came the better suited the pair would be. And when General Wainwright received a letter from Screw & Scattergood hinting that he must be prepared for a renewal of this suit, the latter had no hesitation in paying a second visit to Lady Mary, and on the plea of the uncertainty of his own health, gently insinuating that it was his ardent desire to see the marriage take place at once. Lady Mary was equally earnest, and when Lord Ronald was consulted they obtained a willing and joyful consent. The day was appointed by the two before Octavia was con- sulted, Lord Ronald naturally taking it for granted that her father expressed the wishes of his beautiful betrothed. She heard them calmly when the matter was explained to her, and smiled a gracious acquiescence, but immediately after. hurried away out of sight into the first retreat she could find, which chanced to be a little music-room opening be- tween the library and the private parlor of the countess. There she sat down deadly cold, shivering from head to foot. What had she consented to do? Aside from with her own hand setting the seal of her life-long wretchedness, she had voluntarily agreed to assist in an imposition, a fraud— what else could it be called? The earland Lord Ronald be- lieved her.the heiress of Wainwright Slope and its generous revenue. As such they were willing to lift her to’ their higher stations. This hurried marriage was her father’s work, to secure her against any retraction on their part, when the claim of the Middletons could no longer be con- ‘ : FF, > | - § ’? BONA A UN aR se he ag wes comicboo ry 5 < "* : ; ; ver ' : A . 2 o ‘ vet a. oe . - Rey I: on atten i) ye LT et ae Pek ake el “« - ex y > —~ at ib ie aes A Aid fey ' a DS, BE ap te CS) €oO