A Struggle for a Ring — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

“HE IS MY HUSBAND.” 235 or how the strength came to her to move her limbs. She remembered nothing until she found herself in the broad corridor, then she was still clasping the telegram in her hands. She stopped abruptly, trying to recover herself, trying to collect her scattered thoughts, trying in vain to still the trembling that seized her. He was coming; ina few hours he would be in the house, and he would find her there. ‘‘T cannot think,” she cried, pitifully. ‘*‘ My brain is whirling; I have lost the power of thinking.” Then she remembered that she must find Lady Ger- | trude. She went to the conservatory, where she knew that the two ladies spent some time every morning. She saw the glimmer of white dresses, and she walked through the cool, fragrant blooms up to them. It seemed to her that she was looking at them through a mist. Then she heard Lady Ethel say : | | ‘« There is something the matter, lam quite sure. Look at Miss Derwent’s face.” - Then Lady Gertrude rose and stood before her, ata ing in excited tones. ‘‘ What is the matter, Miss Derwent?—is mamma ill?” Then Alice recovered herself. Danger to him always brought her to her senses long before anything else. There was danger; they might begin to wonder soon what had distressed her. She looked up at Lady Gertrude’s ane tioning face, and spoke calmly. ‘‘T beg your pardon, Lady Gertrude,” she said; ‘‘I have hurried myself in looking for you. There is nothing wrong. Lady Waldrove is better; she wishes to see you > at once.” “‘You have a telegram in your hand,” said Lady Ger- trude. ‘‘ What is it?” KS (eo) Eomichboo