A Struggle for a Ring — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

A YOUNG LADY’S HINT. 303 her boudoir with Lady Ethel and Lady Gertrude, after saying that-she should not require Miss Derwent’s services again that evening. ‘Then Ailie was free. She drew her breath with a long, deep sob. Free! Oh, Heaven, whata ~ parody the word seemed to her! She went to her room, and put on a hat and cloak. It came natural to her to dress herself picturesquely, even now in her sorrow and misery. The cloak was worn as only an artist could wear it, and the dark hat was like a dark crown on the golden head. She went quietly out of the house, though she was quite indifferent as to whether any one saw her or not; the evening was her own, and she could do as she liked with it. ‘ She walked quickly across the pleasure-grounds, through the park, to the outer gate that led to the highway. A great cluster of elm trees crowned the hill just there, and Ailie sat down under their shade to wait for the coming of her husband. | The sun was setting in the western sky; the hill-tops and the boughs of the trees were all crimson; the birds were singing their vesper hymns; the dew was falling, and the sweet night wind whispered among the sleeping flowers. It was so calm, so peaceful, so still; the rest- less, passionate heart grew calm; the beating pulse, the tired nerves, all grew quiet; the fever-flush faded from her face. How could human love, human passion, torture a human soul while the grand, serene peace of Heaven lay around? ‘‘So calm, so still; it is the smile of God,” she said to herself. The lovely, peaceful calm had its influence over her; the fever of passion, the fever of unrest passed away; the fever of jealousy and pain died; she only remembered Re comicbooks. E(o)