Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

238 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE cealed. Her cold cheek burned hotly as she tried to pic- ture what the world would say. And then she reassured herself it would not make any difference with Lord Ronald. She had confidence enough in the depth of his affection to know that he would gladly take her portionless as with the generous Wainwright dower. But there was the Harl of Chichester and Lady Mary; it was avery different affair with them! If she could only have seen into Lady Mary’s chamber, where that lady sat clasping her thin hands over her throbbing heart, murmuring: ‘‘Qh, I feel like a thief and a coward every time I look into the general’s face. What will they think of me if the ‘worst comes, and they learn that I knew all the time, and yet never told them—allowed Octavia to sacrifice her bril- liant prospects? Heaven forgive my selfishness, but for poor Ronald’s sake I must persist! And, after all, what need she care for the empty title if she loves Ronald? mnere is no great wrong certainly.” Thus the two parties, mutually consenting to a cheat, consoled their fears, and cajoled the stings of conscience. Octavia had but one moretrial. As she sat there, white and shivering in the music-room, the library door unclosed, and Felix Thorne came in slowly. Did he know she was there? He gave no start of sur- prise, only a satirical smile curled his lip, and a steely gleam in his gray eye betrayed his secret anger. ‘©Ah, Miss-Wainwright! So I am in season to give early congratulations. ‘There is quite a buzz of excitement in the household over the delightful news just proclaimed. I congratulate Lord Ronald. He will have a bride who will wear his coronet with queenly grace.” Octavia was not unmindful of the disdainful anger of the tone. Her pride helped her to gather up her faculties, and face him without betraying all the weakness of her heart. ‘<’'Thank you; I have no doubt Lord Ronald shares your -comicbook ) 2 , ana Vb ete) va re 4 pms a . ’ . . The eles é et . ary ” i fy As »}