A Heart's Bitterness — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

206 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. «< Anna is in the conservatory.” Gore, obedient to the hint, moved away and left to Leigh his place by Hartington. Lord Leigh did not see Alwood, but stood with his back to him, but certain that he was in full hearing. : ‘‘A splendid assemblage of fair women and brave men, cousin,” said Leigh to the colonel. ‘‘In such a gathering it is hard to tell where to award the prize of beauty. Lady Grace Churchill is charming in her gold brocade.” > «She is indeed. But, with all respect to your wife and mine, Leigh, Miss Haviland is surely queen of the ball. «She is—looking very well,” said Leigh, tranquilly sur- veying Edna, who had just given her hand to Keith; ‘‘ cull- ing homage from every parti, as a bee honey from every flower. But Miss Haviland is an old. story to me. 1 was en- gaged to her for a year once.” “What, Leigh? You and Miss Haviland engaged?” «Yes; when you were in India, I had that happiness.” ‘In the name of wonder, how did you give up such an houri?” **T offered her my hand, and—she is very coquettish—and she put me ona year’s probation. It.is a fashion she has— waiting for whatever might happen, you see, and what happened was, I saw Violet, and that finished me. Violet 1s. certainly charming to-night in white lace and wild roses, and the boy thrives in wondrous fashion.” Having thus doubly stabbed Alwood and the colonel, Leigh walked away to speak to other guests, and the lovely and innocent girl whose fair name and simple history he had darkened, unconscious of the wrong done her, finished her dance with Kenneth Keith. Edna wondered that she did not see Alwood again that evening. But then she had seen him, and she was sure she was beloved. That was enough of happiness for one ane Love’s young radiance filled her soul. _ For Leigh, he had shot his poisoned arrow, and waited to see his victim fall. : On sweet dreams of her lover Edna’s tender heart was fed during several days when they did not meet. Then he was present at one of Lady Burton’s morning concerts; but grave, constrained, unlike himself. It was when one of _ Bach’s finest figures was thundering through the room S) (E(0) EGomichoo