Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

AN UNEXPECTED RETURN. 303 miser—Robert Dale—of whom you have heard so much this evening.” ‘‘How can that be?’ Geoffrey asked, while Mrs. Maplesuon uttered an exclamation of surprise. ‘‘You shall know very soon; but first shake hands with my wife,” his father responded, presenting Mrs. Mapleson. ‘‘You are, indeed, very much like my son,” she murmured, as she gave’him her hand; ‘‘and, believe me,” she added, with touching humility, ‘‘l am rejoiced to have you restored to my husband, even at the expense of the trying confessions and revelations of this evening. Geoffrey respectfully raised ber hand to his lips, and the act conveyed, far better than words could have done, the sympathy he felt for the suffering which she had endured. She then bade Mr. Huntress good-nig ht, after which her hus- band led her from the room, He accompanied her to her own door. ‘“Good-night, Estelle,” he said, gently, ‘I hove you will go directly to bed and try to sleep.” She turned suddenly—that proud, imperions woman, who, for more tian twenty years, had repressed every sign of affection for him—and threw herself upon his breast. | “Oh! William, say that you do not quite hate me for what I have told you to-night!” she cried, in an agonized tone. Her husband looked astonished at her act; then his face soft- ened, his eyes lighted with sudden joy. ‘‘Why, my wife? 1 believe you almost love me after all! Do you, Estelle?” he eagerly questioned; ‘‘do I possess any more of your beart now than I did when Se married me, or has if been a continual siruggle all along to be a good wife to me?” She was sobbing like a child, now; the haughty, indomitable = spirit that had upheld her so long was subdued af last. **T have not dared to let you see how much of my heart you have won; you know you told me you did not entertain a lover’s affection for me, and I would not foree mine upon you,” she confessed, with her face still hidden upon his breast. He fclded his arms more closely about her. ‘And J have imagined that you were holding me at arms’ length during all our life,” he said, laying his cheek softly against her still glossy hair. ‘Estelle, we will be lovers all the rest of our lives, for, my wife, vou have become very, very dear fo me— I did not realize how dear until now. We will not look back- ward any more, but forward; we have both erred greatly in the as, and it would ill become either of us to criticise the other. ell me, shall we drop the vail of charity over it all, and begin to live our real Jife from this hunr?” For the first time in her life, she put her arms about his neck, and voluntarily laid her lips egaiust his cheek. “I do not deserve this, William,” she said, humbly, ‘‘but you (C(O) > A, Ghoo S (E(0) =)