A Heart's Bitterness — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

212 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. gested, to queen it on one of the colonies—marry an official, say in Australia—and go to be a leader there, a queen, as your beauty and your manners fit you to ber” ‘“No, no!’ cried Helen, ‘‘ nothing for me but vengeance on him. You promise me revenge; I will have it—noth- ing but revenge!” “But, if you haveit, you must pay me my price.” ‘«« Pay your price!”? said Helen, looking him steadily in the eyes. ‘* What is your price?” “You must be my wife.” ‘Your wife? You are a stranger to me.” ‘¢ But I love you.” «< You may have ten wives for all that I know.” ‘<7 swear I have never married.” ‘‘ But you have been insane for months.” «That is nothing; it will not happen again.” «* But I—why, Ido not care for you.” «“That is a pity; but the love shall be on my side. I love you, and I mean to have you.” “No. Ask something other than that.” ‘‘Let me show you what might be. Leigh wants to.be rid of you and of me. I heard his offers to you. I am not so vicious that I prefer revenge to love. Id rather take you than harmhim. Leigh will get mea good appointment. IT am rich; he will give you a sum that will get you a trous- ~seau like an empress. Women like jewels, dresses, servants, carriages. Youshall haveall. You shall have town house and country house in Australia, and queen it there, and | will be your chief slave. Speak the word, say you'll take me, and I'll go to Leigh for terms at once.” ** Never! never! never! I willnot marry you!” _ Phen youshall not have yourrevenge. Ill go back to _ Australia to-morrow. Ill only play into your hands if you pay me my price.” ‘‘ And can you really destroy Lord Leigh?” “Tcan. I have it all laidout. It cannot fail.” ** And you will not carry out this plan unless Ke _ Unless you reward me with your hand. Listen to me. That November day, when I came here, my motives were, as I told you, curiosity—a desire to see how Lord Leigh would receive me, and a wish to secure his help in advanc- ing me in Australia. But when I saw you it was as if a flame swept over me and lit my heart. The love that cold- Eomicbooks:co