A Heart's Bitterness — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

184 A HEART'S BITTERNESS. -gsend—and, by the way, the countess wants to see you to- morrow atten. Don’t forget.” After this thunderbolt of news, Helen Hope neither ate nor slept, and was in a fury of rage and despair. She found Violet alone next morning, lying on the couch in the bou- doir. A new dignity, a serenity, a self-poise, a certain strength of womanhood had come to the little countess through her late experiences. | _ ** Miss Hope,” she said, quietly, ‘‘ you have acted to me a wicked, very wicked part, but my trouble is much of my own making in seeing you when I was warned against you, and in listening to your crafty tales. You urged me to do a thing which you knew was wicked, and which you hoped would be fatal to me. You promised to meet me when you - never meant to do so, and you sent me to seek a place which did not exist. God has taken care of me. God guarded all my foolish way, and sent me friends and safety. You need never see me again, for | have done with you; and as I know you are not a fit guide for my cousins, you must leave my aunt. If you will give warning, and leave at once, I will help soothe her vexation, and will not say a word against you. If you will not go, I shall tell her enough to secure - your dismissal.” ‘And then I will ruin you, my fine countess.” *« At all risk, my cousins shall be saved. Anna was here yesterday, and I find you have advised her to elope with Gore.” | «* And you consider it a decent act to turn me helpless into the street!” screamed Helen, wildly. ‘‘No. Here are one hundred pounds. Pray go and find a place in France, or where I will not know where you are. Don’t hesitate. ‘T'ake the money. Youare welcome. ‘I'ry and be good.” } “Try and be good!’ cried Helen, rising in wrath. ‘« Listen—I will bring you to ruin and shame! I will beg-' _ gar that child which you are so proudly expecting! I will’ show the world that Norman Leigh is a villain and an im- postor, far down on the level of Helen Hope, the foundling. I will show that you are no true wife, only a befooled sham countess, of a sham Lord of Leigh, and fs The door yee and Edna entered, noble and queenly. «“Silence, Helen Hope!’ These are idle threats, wicked _ falsehoods. Leave Lady Leigh’s presence instantly.” e Gomicbooks (E(0)