A Struggle for a Ring — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

290 A CRUSHED FLOWER. Lady Ethel was in her dressing-room, and in answer to the rap-at her door, said: ‘*Come in.” When Ailie had given her message, Lady Ethel looked at her, with a smile. ‘My dear Miss Derwent, how tragical you are!” she said. ‘‘If you were presenting me with a dagger, instead of a flower, I should not be so much surprised. It is very beautiful, but I cannot understand why Lord Carsdale did not bring it himself.” ‘‘Nor can I, if he wished you to wear it,” said Ailie, ‘«Sit down,” said Lady Ethel; ‘‘you look pale and tired. I often admire your a delice ; you never seem to have one moment’s rest. Sit down, and look at this book of comic engravings. We will go down together.” Ailie was glad of a few minutes’ rest; she had followed the countess for hours—reading, talking, supplying all the losses of memory, the lost dates, lost names, etc. She looked round this beautiful and luxurious room—a fitting shrine for the beautiful woman who stood init. Dvd her husband care for Lady Ethel? She could hardly believe it. Certainly, sending the flower had not been his fault at all. Then she looked at the beautiful, stately flower, with its luscious perfume. Should it nestle in the white breast of Lady Ethel? Should she, talking to her, bend low, inhale its perfume, and see how she valued his present? Her heart beat fast as she thought of it. No, never; that should never be! The blood seemed to boil in her veins at the thought of it. Never! she could not wear the flowers he loved and chose, but no other one should. She rose from her seat and went to the pale, beautiful hyacinth; the next minute it was lying in shreds on the ground.