Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

902 THRICE WEDDED, — right to expect you to trust in me. But I will find some one who will care for you faithfully.” His voice was full of regret and self-depreciation, and the sound of it brought the tears again to the fair girl? S eyes. But she hastily lifted her head, and glanced half-defiantly at. him, as if daring him to accuse her of being unmaidenly in what she was about to say, and replied: ‘I do not desire to be released from my promise.” ‘“Miss Chichester! surely you do not mean it,” he said, eagerly, his whole face lighting brilhantly. “Yes, Mr. Ellerton, I do.” ; “And can you trust me still, after knowing what you 0 ?”? “T can. Do you not remember what I said this morning —that you might do something, impelled by the force of circumstances, that would merit my severest censure, but that even then I should feel there were goodness and truth in you. My words have proved true! ‘There is much of good in you; I feel that you were intended for a nobie man, and had the influences around you been pure, you would never have been led into such evil ways. I feel that the words you only a short time since uttered were sincere, and I have no wish to retract anything that I have pledged, least of all my faith in you.’ Ralph gazed at her in wondering admiration! “I cannot tell you, Miss Chichester,” he said, “how deeply grateful I am for your confidence in me. Your words move me more than I can express; they give me new cour- age, they inspire me with a blessed hope.” CHAPTER XXXVIL. GONE TO HIS DOOM. Meanwhile Alfred Ellerton had found the Italian broth- ers, who had retreated into the background when the long- lost wife presented herself; but they now came forward, and stood proudly and coldly before the squire, having first sought and found Vivien, who still remained with Fredrich Weimher, both seeming to find an irresistible charm in each other’s society. ee hey, too, came near, but took their places behind Squire comick 900 S (elo)