A Struggle for a Ring — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

AN ANXIOUS MOTHER. 153 ~ ‘‘We will talk about it, mamma, when the offer: is made; and now, thank you for your advice; I am so tired, dear.” ‘““T should like to know, Ethel, what you yourself think of Lord Carsdale?” asked Lady Pierpont, anxiously. Her daughter smiled satirically, as she answered: ‘“T have been too carefully brought up, mamma, even to think of liking any one who has not declared some- thing more than a liking for me.” Lady Pierpont kissed her, and told her she was a> cor fort. ‘You really are a comfort to me, Ethel,” she said. ‘* When I hear other mothers talking about their children, ~ deploring their obstinacy, J am thankful that I have a sweet, docile daughter.” And with those pleasant words, Lady Pierpont went away slightly puzzled. Certainly Lord Carsdale appeared to love her daughter; his mother had said it. It seemed strange that he should not have been in a greater hurry to make that brilliant prize his own. Lady Ethel rose from her seat with a great sigh. She stretched out those fair, white arms; then they fell list- lessly by her side. **T cannot understand it,” she said to herself .‘‘I thought he loved me. If ever love shone in a man’s face, or spoke in his voice, it does in his; if ever a man looked as though his whole soul had left him and lay at my feet, Lord Carsdale looks so. I could swear that he loves me; he trembles like a child before me, and yet says nothing. My heart beats and my face burns when I remember what encouragement I have given him. I have almost told him that I care for him, yet he either does not or will not ad 7 the i ow W - & es A - . (E(0) mm (C JOO cS (eo)