A Struggle for a Ring — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

110 A MOTHER’S STRATAGEM. ‘*Put it down, Vivian,” said the countess, affecting annoyance. Instead of obeying her, he carried it to “the light, looking at it with eyes full of admiration. ‘She has the mouth of a goddess,” he said, ‘‘and the molding of her face is perfect. What dark, bright eyes, proud and sweet!” ‘Pray put that picture away, Vivian,” said the countess, and this time she spoke in a firmer tone. She laughed to herself. ‘‘If I had asked him to admire it he would have refused,” she thought; ‘‘ forbidding him to do it gives ita zest. Put it where you found it,” she continued,.‘‘and bring me my fan.” - He went up to her, the picture still in his hands. ‘‘Mother,” he said, ‘‘you are really cruel tome. Do tell me who this is.” | ‘‘Why do you wish to know?” she asked. ‘‘ Because it is so beautiful, and there is something about it which seems—I cannot express myself; the eyes smile at me as though she and I had a secret between us.” ‘‘What nonsense !” said the delighted countess. ‘‘Obey me, Vivian; replace the picture where you found it, and _ forget it.” ‘‘ Why?” he asked, briefly. ‘‘T will tell you why,” said the countess; ‘‘ because her beauty is as fatal as was the beauty of Helen of Troy. To look long on it is to long for it, and such longing would all be in vain.” ‘‘Why?” he said, eagerly. ak ta really much prefer declining to answer your question,” she said. He bent down and kissed her face. co comicbooks