A Struggle for a Ring — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

om. 340 “7 WOULD DIE TO FREE YOU.” ‘*T do not call such conduct by the mild name of mad- ness,’ said the countess, proudly; ‘‘it is wickedness and crime: No man or woman has a right to marry beneath his or her station; it is cruel and unpardonable. I would never forgive such a thing.” se ‘‘Perhaps in some one very near and dear to you, you might,” observed one of the ladies; but the countess drew herself up proudly. ‘<'That I should not,” she said; ‘‘ the nearer and dearer the person was to me who committed such a folly, the more I should punish it. I would never speak to son or daughter again who served me in that fashion.” ‘«‘That would be very cruel,” said Lady Legard. “‘I do not think so. I believe that if parents were “firmer, and showed more plainly by the severity of their anger now unpardonable such crime is, there would be less of it.’ ‘‘T think, mamma,” laughed Lady Gertrude, ‘‘ that you are the last in the world with anything of this kind to fear. You have but two unmarried children—Vivian and myself; there is little fear that we shall ever marry be- neath us.” And as Lady Gertrude uttered these words, the eyes of husband and wife met. Ailie’s beautiful face had grown very pale, while Lord Carsdale had flushed crimson. Any one seeing them just at that moment must have guessed their secret. Lady Waldrove was unusually eloquent on the matter. ‘‘I do not suppose there is, my dear Gertrude. Such absurdities do not enter my mind; I am speaking gener- ally. I should just as soon expect you both to turn out forgers, or something equally dreadful, as to marry beneath you; the very words have a nauseous sound.” Eomicbooks.co