A Struggle for a Ring — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

248 A WIFE'S AGONY. 3) of him,” the- servants said, and they were right—erect; proud, with a martial carriage that was grand tosee. He knelt down by his mother’s side; she was his dream of all that was most beautiful in women; he threw his strong arms round her, kissing her over and over again, a!] un- conscious of the white, pained face, with its tender, tragic beauty, near him. ‘< It is long since I have seen you, mother,” he said; ‘‘I shall never leave: you again.”’ Then, and for the first time, his young wife heard what music there was in his voice, how tender, and true, and earnest it could be. Would it ever fall to her lot to hear such whispered words? Real tears stcod in Lady Waldrove’s eyes; she had shed - - none since her son left her—how many years ago? ‘Then she said to him: ‘¢Stand up, Vivian. Why, my dear, what a handsome. man you have grown. You are like the Carsdales—you are the very picture of old Earl Hugh, my dear boy; it does my heart good to see you again.’ Then Lady Gertrude spoke, and it occurred soddesly” to Lady Waldrove that her companion was somewhere i in the dim shadow of the hangings and the flowers, ‘“You see, Vivian, Gertrude is not married ‘yet; she seems very difficult to please. She spends so much time with her aster that I have been compelled to look fora companion, ” Aristocrat as she was, the countess would have consid- ered any formal introduction between the heir of Rose- neath and her companion bad taste. She merely said: _ ‘Lord Carsdale, my companion, Miss ih _ And the words died away in a gentle murmur. He ooked carelessly in the direction she indicated ; he cS comicboo (eo)