A Fair Fraud — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

A Fair Fraud 259 which would sweep all the mists and cobwebs of passion from his eyes, it would be the most natural thing in the world if the great and glaring disadvantages of the marriaye pressed themselves forcibly back again upon his recol- lection. She was a convict’s daughter, and she had led the life of an adventuress: she had, moreover, deliberately deceived himself and his parents, and had fraudulently posed in a position and a character to which she had noright. Could anything atone for these sins? Could any love be so strong as to override them? Hester often sadly feared not. Indeed, if it had not been for Marion Blake and her constant letters and loving sympathy, Hester would have despaired altogether. It was Marion who kept the flame of hope alive in her secret heart. It was from her that she learnt that Kenneth had gone abrcad, - und that she knew, as Marion said, that there were ‘no ladies on board the yacht.’ A trifle, no doubt, yet a trifle fraught with deep con- solation to a woman’s heart! When she heard of Marion’s engagement to Mr Naylor she rejoiced a great deal for her sake and also a little for her own: for Marion wrote in the fulness of her heart of a happy future for them both. ‘I cannot ask you to my wedding, dearest | Hester,’ she wrote, ‘ because it is, of course, to 4 (G' O) ElLOOO