A Heart's Bitterness — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

140. A HEART’S BITTERNESS. You will make me happy by one waltz, Miss Havi- . i -land?” | rae ~ ——-—s**zRReailily;, ‘Lord Leigh,” said Edna, glancing along her tablet, with indifference, ‘‘I have not a waltz left. oa All the waltzes of the evening gone!” said Leigh, Mer: ‘¢ All in which I shall indulge,” said Edna, calmly. -.. **Some dance then,” pleaded Leigh, eagerly; ‘‘do not =~ deny me all.” 3 Bs _. “J think I have promised all that I shall dance,” said _ Edna, again referring to her-tablets, and then glided into conversation with Sir Tom and Lady Grace Churchill. Lord Leigh had engaged his wife for the first dance; he had only expected to dance that once, as he was not fond Pe of that amusement. “When he led out Violet, Edna and _ Lord Keith were near them. He grew pale with rage and ea jealous envy, as he saw Edna’s delicate hand resting on —. Keith’s shoulder. i Whispered praises of his lovely little wife fell coldly on -. . Leigh’s ear—were hardly understood; but every word that suggested’ that Edna and Kenneth looked ‘Yarely well to- gether, and made a magnificent couple, pierced Leigii’s _ fevered. heart like a savage knife-thrust. “What am I to understand by your appearance here with _ Lady Burton?” whispered Leigh, later, in Edna’s ear. ‘‘ Why, that she is my chaperon, and that I am likely to have a delightful season,” said Edna, serenely. pA ne 5 es a ; ~ ad - Sons, Ve Tae | FRR 7 Ate oe WA en Pb = gs << i 2y" ee ~~ * Am I to conside that it means a match with Keith?” — __. -** Really, my lord,” said Edna, scornfully, ‘‘ I cannot see on what ground you presume to ask sucha question. I may be ignorant of the customs of society. Do mere ac- quaintances challenge personal acts and intentions in this _ fashion?” “* A mere acquaintance! Oh, Edna, can_I be no more!” “Not a whit more,” said Edna, ‘‘ unless by dignity, good | et | Se ee . = oS a Se i) : ey, | ea ae £ = “— = le se, leks a’ A uaa es (Oa - x 5 aS Dye | bsg 3 - » judgment, and nobleness, 'you show yourself worthy to be Be ny trend.” eo Lord Leigh retired to a secluded corner of the conserva- tory to meditate. He looked from the fragrant, flowery shades of the conservatory into the brilliant ball-room, and _ saw the rosy, diamond sprinkled figure of Violet taking her ____place in the dance on the arm of Sir Tom Churchill. How frail a thing she looked, yet standing as an invincible wall