A Struggle for a Ring — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

16 A MEETING, AND A PROMISE. child, Alice. I have here intrusted to my care some of the noblest youths in England. I must do my duty by them, and the great duty of all is to keep them from temptation. I have not forgotten the Legend of St. An- thony; therefure I allow no women, no girls, about my house, so that there may be no falling in love, no nonsense of unequal marriage. You understand, Alice?” She looked at him with innocent, child-like eyes. ‘Not guite, uncle. No one is obliged to fall in love, are they?” ) ‘“We need not discuss the subject,” said the doctor; ‘it is sufficient for you to know my resolve.” ‘‘T am sorry to know it,” said Alice, with her girlish dignity and girlish pride all in arms; ‘‘for I am very grateful to you, uncle, and I want to prove it.” He saw tears in the beautiful blue eyes, whose sweetness years ago had touched his heart. . “I will go back,” she said; ‘‘I am sorry that I came, uncle. I wanted to show you that I had made some progress; I will go home.” She held out a little white hand to him, and the doctor’s heart was touched. | ‘There is no need for that,” he said, hastily. ‘‘I—I] should be glad to see you for a day or two, but you must keep entirely to the housekeeper’s rooms; you must give ~ me your word of honor that you will never even cross the passage. Ishall go to Mrs. Chawner’s room when I wish to see you. Do you give me your promise?” She held out her hand to him with a bright, amused smile-—a smile that made her look so lovely, the doctor's heart sank within him. : | “*T promise,” she replied; it seemed so very absurd to her. Ha inca 3 | -~ ‘com (al eXofe)