A Struggle for a Ring — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

“J WOULD DIE TO FREE YOU.” 241 ‘‘T am quite sure that I shall never do so,” laughed ~ Lady Gertrude. ‘‘I leave Vivian to answer for himself.” ‘‘Oh, Vivian has too much yood sense,” said the count- ess; ‘‘I should never be afraid of such a thing from him.” ‘‘] think the discussion very foolish and very useless,” said Lord Carsdale, briefly. The countess turned quickly round. ‘It is not often that I differ with you, but I do this time. Such a discussion is of the very highest importance, and I am only sorry that I cannot denounce such iniquities as unequal marriages more strongly than I do.” And again the eyes of husband and wife met. ‘¢ There may be excuses at times,” pleaded gentle Lady — Legard. ‘«' There can be none,” said the countess, stérnly. ‘‘If the daughter I loved married beneath her, I would never look upon her face again. If the son I cherished did so, he should henceforth be no more than a stranger to me.” ‘‘We will change the subject,” said Lord Carsdale; ‘‘it is not a pleasant one.” And Lady Legard very adroitly told a story of some charade party given at a house where she had been visiting. The subject was not resumed, but Lord Carsdale saw that his young wife's face did not regain its coloring. He saw that her hands trembled so much that it was with difficulty she could hold her book. All the chivalry of his nature was aroused. He felt inclined to take that trembling figure in his arms and defy the whole world; he felt in- clined to say: ‘‘T have married beneath me—this is my wife! Now do and say your worst!” (ee) comicbook