A Struggle for a Ring — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

"J WILL NOT FORGET.” 391 They saw a slight shudder pass through the trembling frame, but she spoke no word in extenuation. ) ‘*If I did my duty,” said the countess. ‘‘I should dis miss you before the whole household; I should make you a warning ; 1 should load you with the ignominy and dis- grace that you deserve; and if I could, I would send you | to prison, there to expiate your sin. I cannot do that, and my daughter—I know not why—asks me to be metci- ful to you. You have no claim to mercy; still, because _ you are young, and I have liked you, I will be merciful.” Ailie murmured some few words, and the countess, thinking they were to thank her, looked just a trifle softer. ‘You ought to be made an example and a warning of,” she said; ‘‘but I will think better of it. You must leave to-day, but it shall be understood in the household that you. are suddenly sent for—you are suddenly summoned ; there need not be any direct falsehood told, but in this case, it is really a charity to conceal the truth. You can pack your boxes; let Lady Gertrude know at what time you are go- ing, and the carriage shall take you to the station. I know that Iam guilty of great, almost unpardonable weakness ; but in exposing and punishing you, I expose and punish my beloved son. I do what L do under protest, always re- member that, not to save and screen you, but to save and screen my beloved son.” ‘‘T quite understand,” said Ailie. ‘‘I will not forget.” ‘¢You have my permission to make it known in the house that you are going away to-day in consequence of news that you have received. I wish to say also, that re- membering it is I who send you away, I will give you half a year’s salary ; you do not deserve it, Ailie Derwent, but you shall never have it in your power to say that poverty drove you to sin.” ye (E(@) cComicbooks ve s 7? ae i . ,