A Struggle for a Ring — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

160 THE MEETING. your sister dressed to receive her husband—wonder and admire.” ‘‘Do not be inclined to rile to-day, Hettie,” said a sweet, soft voice. ‘‘ Iam very nappy because my husband is coming home.” Hettie gave her a kiss, the very sound of which made Alice shudder. ‘‘No one shall tease you, Alice. Let Frank look to himself if he speaks. But, oh, Alice, how foolish you are, my dear, to take all that trouble for a man.” With which expression of her feelings, Miss Hettie was kind enough to go away and take Frank with her. «They will have plenty to talk about, Frank,” she said; ‘‘they will not want us.” So the young wife sat alone, watching and waiting for the carriage that was to bring her husband. The sweet face was flushed with agitation, the eyes bright with the fever of impatience. When he did come she grew pale as death, and from the white lips opened to greet*him there came no sound. She might have turned blue or any other color, for all the notice that Lord Carsdale took; his eyes rested once for half a moment on the white, sweet face, then he said, carelessly : ‘How are you, Ailie? How are they all at home?” The thought that passed through his mind was: ‘“‘This is the girl who will part me forever from my love.” | He was not unkind to her, but he was so indifferent, so careless, the girl's heart turned in that moment to stone. He looked up when she did not answer. ‘* Are ney all well, Ailie?” “Yes,” she replied; and the sound of her voice was unlike irre sae human. Gomicbooks (€ @)