A Heart's Bitterness — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

— 266 — A HEART’S BITTERNESS. Violet was seated on a low chair near the fire that leaped in the grate. Her black robes fell heavily about her, her white cap made the one strong point of light, as with her lovely child-like face turned aside, she watched Alwood while he studied a portrait which was set up on a table near 2 him. She could not doubt that he loved Edna deeply still, — when she saw how pale he grew, and how a mist swept over his eyes, and a look of longing and despair settled over his handsome face. He turned and caught her gaze. He strove to speak indifferently. 7 ‘““Miss Haviland has been keeping you company?” he said, coming and leaning his elbow on the jade mantel, and looking down at the countess. ‘Yes. I cannot tell you what she has been to me. I think ours is such a love as Tennyson celebrated in ‘In Memoriam,’ more than the love of kindred. And yet, do you know, once I had the deepest and most unreasoning _ aversion toward Edna.” ‘“ Ah?” said the marquis, softly. ‘Yes. But it was all owing to a mistake. Noone could be angry with Edna, nor condemn her, except as under a mistake, because she is the most perfect creature on earth. - Well, I mistook her, and disliked her, and refused to meet _ her, and she returned me good for evil, and love for hate, _ and saved me for myself, and if I have been strong at all, _and have done my duty, it is all owing to Edna.” ‘*She is fortunate in having so warm a friend,” said the - ‘marquis. “Would you imagine me of a jealous nature, Lord Al- wood ?” _ **I donot know. But if you are, I think I could sym- -pathize with the infirmity, as I possess it.” _ “Tt leads us into many mistakes, and often causes us to destroy our own happiness and the happiness of others, and to condemn the innocent,” said Violet, quietly, and then turned the conversation to business channels. The next morning, before breakfast, Lord Alwood was strolling about in the park, when he came upon a little Tustic seat under a beech tree, and there lay an open book, and on it a kerchief and a withered cluster of pansies. __ The handkerchief had Edna’s name on it. She had inad- _ vertently left the things there some thirty-six hours be- S) (E(e) | Eomichoo