A Heart's Bitterness — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

258 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. — ‘‘ Bring her in,” said the young countess, in a firm, low tone; ‘‘one cannot refuse hospitality to the dead.” | Mr. Storms passed first—and arm in arm Adam and Kemp followed, each the ruin of his hope—the idol of his life. | | They laid the bodies down in the billiard-room, and then the rector, taking.Violet’s hand and drawing her to him as if she were his child, said, while tears rained over his white beard and wrinkled cheeks: ‘Dear child, your work for him is ended. You have still your boy; come to him.” And bowed above the cradle of her babe, the overwrought heart of Violet Leigh found the relief of tears. ‘‘She cannot be alone so, poor, friendless little heiress that she has always been,” said Mr. Storms. pityingly. ‘‘We must send for some one. For her aunts?” ‘‘Tf I might be so bold,” said Kate. ‘‘I suppose the re- lations must be sent for, but Lady Burton and Miss Hayi- land are the ones that can comfort her, and no others.” Shut alone in her room, Violet passed that horrible day. ‘he .coroner’s inquest was held, the preparations for the burial went on. Henry Ainslie, and his wife, and the Earl of Montressor, and Colonel Hartington, were summoned, but Violet saw no one until another day dawned, and a swift step passed up the stair, and Kate gave a cry of joy, as she opened the door of her lady’s room, and Edna Haviland folded the for- lorn little widow to her bosom. Held in those strong, fond ~ arms, soothed by that sweet, loving voice, she who had learned to console, having had many sorrows of her own in | her young, innocent life, brought the balm of comfort to the wounded heart of Violet. Only a little over two years had the tragedy of her _ wretched married life lasted. With its pains and its pathos, it had ended now in darkness. Violet was as one exhausted, nearly lost, worn from hard battle with a stormy sea, cast at last into shelter, but conscious onlv as yet of the loss and the storm. But finally, in the arms of Edna, she sank into restful slumber. Gomicbooks:co