A Struggle for a Ring — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

or LADY ETHEL. mother’s companion, Lady Gertrude was gentle and even considerate to Alice Derwent, but she would no more have dreamed of equality with her, of talking familiarly to her, of exchanging opinions with her, than she would have dreamed of flying—so that Alice could ask no questions of her. The oftener she heard the name of Lady Ethel the more anxious she grew; yet, in what way possible could it affect her? She saw that the countess set great _ store by this coming yisitor; all possible preparations were made for her. ‘‘ We will do that when Lady Ethel comes.” ‘We will wait for Lady Ethel.” ‘‘We must see what Lady Ethel thinks.” These were the kind of words that Alice heard continually. The finest suite of rooms in the Abbey were set aside for Lady Ethel. Alice sighed as she listened ; could it ever be within the realms of possibility that such care would ever be taken of her? Ah, no, not even were it known that she was the heir’s wife—not even then. It-was the beginning cf August then, and no lovelier month had ever dawned ; it seemed as though nature were holding a sweet and special carnival of its own; the sky was brilliantly blue; the sun shone with a brilliant light, yet it was not so warm as to be unpleasant; the air was filled with odors from the green, shady woods, the fruit- laden orchards, the gay flower-gardens; the birds sang ~ jubilant music; the lovely, laughing corn-fields were golden; the harv st moon made the whole world bright and light. So fair a month—nothing could have been fairer, and Lady Ethel was coming, she heard them say. Well, why need she trouble? Lady Ethel was nothing to her. Why this passionat 4 , keen sense of unrest? Why this hot, angry, wretched feeling whenever her name was mentioned? More than once, when she entered the room, she found tthe ° comicboo cS m (E(0)