A Heart's Bitterness — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART’S BITTERNESS. _ 269 CHAPTER LIX. ‘“IN DEATH UNDIVIDED.” In those dark days Edna was the light and stay of the household at the Towers. Mrs. Ainslie, kind-hearted and helpless, could only weep and lament; Lady Burton, at Vio- let’s entreaty, took her place in the household, and Violet remained in her suite of rooms, with Edna and Rupert, see- ing the members of the family only for a few minutes each day, as they came to inquire for her health. | Ihe astuteness of Mr. Storms had suggested a plausible ~ reason for the appearance of Lord Leigh at ‘“The Folly;” and his view that the earl lost his life in the effort to keep Helen Hope from throwing herself into the Pool gained general credence. Leigh had been an earl ; he was dead; good reasons both - for checking evil speech about him. Words cannot tell the relief of Violet, in finding that no ill-reports were to be rife of him whose name she bore, ahd who was the father of her child. On the second day Helen Hope was quietly buried in the church-yard near Leigh Towers. Kemp insisted that she should be buried in her bridal-dress, and he placed in her cold hand a bouquet of tuberoses. «¢ She asked for them, and she shall have them,” he said; and he followed poor Helen, her sole but sincere mourner. That evening Violet sent for him to come to her boudoir. ‘‘T learn that you are going to Australia?” ‘© Yes, to-day week. I'll never see England more.” «<You are very unhappy,” said Violet, in her soft, gentle voice. ‘I can feel for you, for I know what unhappiness is. And I have learned, too, that when we are unhappy we get the most comfort in trying to be good.” «“My lady, how can you think to try and comfort me, when you know I was like to rob you and him?” He pointed to the child, sleeping in his cradle. ‘‘We are told to forgive our enemies,” said Violet. ‘‘T’ve had a hard life and a rough one,” said Kemp; “ but. Ip I will be a better man from this out, for your sake. (ee) Eomicbooks