A Struggle for a Ring — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

AN ANXIOUS MOTHER. ISI Lady Pierpont looked at that most lovely face. The delicate rose-bloom was in some slight degree lessened; the fine eyes had a tired, weary expression. Lady Pier- pont was on the alert in a moment; her daughter’s beauty was the one great pride of her life—nothing must touch that. ‘You do look tired, my dear; you must be careful of yourself. I have only come to ask you a question, and to give you a little advice.” ‘‘T am so tired of advice, mamma dear. I have had nothing but advice since I was ten years old,” said the beauty, resignedly. ‘‘Well, my dear, you have profited by it, I am sure,” said Lady Pierpont. ‘‘I want to ask you, Ethel, is there anything between you and Lord Carsdale?” The beautiful, proud face flushed, then grew pale as death. ‘*No, mamma, there is not,” she replied, haughtily. ‘‘Tell me, Ethel, has Lord Carsdale said anything to you—has he made an offer?” ‘No, mamma, he has not.” ‘‘What were you talking about all this evening? I knew of your ramble on the shore.” ‘«We talked about riddles—and Gibraltar,” she replied. ‘‘Riddles!” repeated Lady Pierpont; ‘‘that was a strange theme. Then he has not what is commonly called made love to you, Ethel?” ‘‘No, he has not, indeed,” she replied, earnestly. ‘<That seems strange, too, for Lady Waldrove was talk- ing to me this evening, and she said that she had never seen one creature so desperately in love with another - as Lord Carsdale is with you.” The beauty laughed; but if Lady Pierpont had been © (SEC Eomichoo