A Struggle for a Ring — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

262 AN AMAZED HUSBAND. ‘Who are you?” he asked; and Ailie let the cloak, which had shrouded her, fall; then, looking up at him in a passion of love, she watched for the least sign of affec- tion. She saw—and the sight almost struck her dead— she saw his face change and darken—darken with angry dislike. She clasped her hands witha lowcry. ‘‘I must be mistaken,” he said, in a clear voice. _‘‘ Who are you?” She raised her beautiful face, with all her passionate love shining in it, to his, ‘“‘T am Ailie,” she replied; but he did not open his arms to her; he did not clasp her.to his heart; he did not kiss her trembling lips. ‘* Ailie!” he repeated, as he fell back. ‘‘ Great God! what are you doing here?” “Is it so strange that I should be here,” she said— ‘here, where you are?” ‘* Have you followed me?” he asked, man like, express- ing his suspicion first. ‘‘Followed you?—oh, no, Lord Carsdale. Do you know that it is five years since I have seen you?” ‘Yes, I know it; but I think it is very imprudent of you to come here.” ‘Do you know that you left England without saying ‘vood-by’ to me?” ‘‘Did I? It must have been your own fault, then; I went down to Rudeswell on purpose ; but that has nothing to do with it. Why are you here? I cannot understand it. I thought you were at home. It is awfully impru- dent.” | She held out her hands to him with a low cry. ‘‘Oh, my love, my love!” she moaned, ‘‘are you not pleased to see me? Have you no kind word for me? Have you no welcome?” — comicbooks (E(@)