A Struggle for a Ring — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

WELCOMING A SON-IN-LAW. 67 heir of Roseneath to join; and Alice’s heart sank when she thought of him in that house. ‘“It will make him hate me,” she thought to herself; ‘*] shall lose my chance of winning his love if he goes there. I know myself that, although I loved them all so dearly, I could not help growing tired of them, and feel- ing how much they jarred upon me.” She had used all entreaties, all prayers, all reasons, yet her husband only laughed. He had a pretty, picturesque idea of her family—of the dancing-master, weighed down with gratitude-—of the broken-down, listless, lady-like mother, who would look up to him as the benefactor of the family—of the sisters, who would worship him, as Alice did, with awe and affection. Lord Carsdale had en- ~ countered many things in his life, but he had certainly never met vulgarity in its most compact form. There was great anxiety in the house No. 34 Cecil street, Rudeswell; the neighbors could not imagine what was about to happen; some suggested a ball, others a wed- ding. The curtains had been washed and darned, every available space in the front of the house that could be brightened had been brightened, every piece of brass shone resplendently ; indeed Harriet and her mother felt rather inclined to moderate their exertions, lest Mr. Nelson should be too overpowered. The holes in the front parlor carpet were adroitly covered, the oil-cloth washed—the first time for many months; the piano, the greatest treasure they possessed, was uncovered; a new shepherdess was purchased, to be placed on the back parlor mantel-piece ; and then the Derwents felt that they could defy fate. “He must be hard to please,” said Hettie, as Mrs. Derwent called Harriet—‘‘he must be hard to please if this does not satisfy him.” | (E(0) mm (C of oye) CS)