A Struggle for a Ring — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

. AN OLD MAN CHEERED. 73 ‘*Yes, mamma,” said the girl, quietly, ‘‘I am very happy. ” “7 see,” said Hettie, ‘‘you are growing quite a fine lady. I do not like very fine ladies. Alice, I hope, now that you are married yourself, you will do your duty by your sisters, and help us to find good husbands.” ‘* Speak for yourself, Hettie,” said pretty Rose. ‘*T do speak for myself, and I mean every word that I say. Ishould like a good husband, one who would buy me plenty of dresses, and would never ask me to work. I say what I think, Rose; and I maintain that, now Alice has had the sense to secure a husband for herself, she should invite us to her house, and do the same for us.” ‘‘T have no house,” said Alice. Hettie’s face fell. . ‘“No house? But you will have—you must have. Your husband has plenty of money, to judge from his _ looks.” ‘* Ves,” said Alice, ‘‘he has plenty, I think.” “Think! Do you not know?” cried Hettie. ‘‘ Have’ you never asked him ?” ‘« Never,” was the brief reply. | ‘‘My word! Listen to that, mamma. She has never asked her husband what he was worth. All his “ies graces would not frighten me.” ‘“‘T am not frightened,” said Alice. ‘‘I know he is rich. It does not matter to me vhat he has.” ‘« Hettie, child,” said her mother, ‘‘pray do not inter- fere; remember your sister is a married woman now, and we must treat her with respect.” ‘‘T shall never respect my own sisters, mamma, you may be quite sure of that,” said Hettie; ‘‘at least, I mean I shall never give in to them. Being married does not (E(0) mn (C 00 S