A Struggle for a Ring — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

boas er “ 386 “7 WILL SUFFER FOR HI/M.,”’ ‘‘Can ‘you give me any explanation of the circum- stances? Can you tell me anything which will extenuate them ?” : Could she? Ailie could have smiled in bitter sarcasm at such a question. Could she? Yes; she might have replied that she was his wife, and had simply gone to the door of his room to give him a note, in which, so far as lay in her power, she released him from her forever ; but she did not. She answered, very quietly: ‘‘] have nothing to say, Lady Gertrude ;” and in some vague but uncertain way there came to the earl’s daughter a conviction she could not explain of the girl’s innocence. Appearances, her own silence, everything was against her, except this certain something which stole into Lady Ger- ‘trude’s heart. Still she said nothing. She had to deal with facts, not convictions, and the facts were against her. _ In silence they went down the long corridor, and in , silence they entered Lady Waldrove’s room. She sat erect and stately, ready to receive them. ae ‘‘Close the door, Gertrude,” she said. ‘‘ Pray do not let this shameful story be heard in the house. Close the door.” Lady Gertrude fastened the door. a Then the countess turned fiercely to Ailie. ~ “What have you to say for yourself?” she asked. And the answer, given in a low tone, was ‘‘ Nothing.” ‘‘IT should say not. I have heard of many things in my life, but never of anything so utterly infamous as this. How did you dare to attempt to draw my son into—into— such an intrigue as this?” No answer; and the girl’s silence seemed to enrage Lady Waldrove. é ‘‘T know all about it,” she said. ‘* Looking innocent , . : Rin + comirebooks.con