Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

OCTAVIA’S PRIDE ; 217 ing as tenderly and proudly as if it were a human being over whose life he had watched so many years, to be rewarded: this night by its grateful answer. They listened to his garrulous, although respectful talk, in dreamy silence. ‘lhe scene was so beautiful; the rich fragrance of the air was so subtle and yet powerful in its effect neither of them could return to their careless talk. Octavia sat with her lap full of blossoms, which Lord Ronald had mutely presented, her large and pensive eyes roaming slowly from one beauty to another. A smile of dreamy, © languid pleasure just stirred the red lips from their gentle curve. Her white hands fell lstlessly and yet half caress- ingly. among-the flowers, crushing out a tropic breath from the orange blossoms. Presently, when the gardener had discovered that his explanations fell upon ears which took none of their meaning, he beat a hasty retreat. She sighed softly. ‘‘ Why is that,” asked Lord Ronald, in a voice of tender reproach, “you sigh, Miss Wainwright.” “From excessive delight perhaps, 33 answered she, ‘‘it is so beautiful here. Don’t you fancy lotus-eaters breathe — just such sighs, even in their paradise?” He smiled brightly. In such a scene, out of that mood it did not seem abrupt for him to take the great rose diamond in his hand, and, holding it out to her, say, simply: ‘Miss Wainwright, I think you know very well how dearly I love you. Will you honor me so much as to give me the privilege of putting this eat upon your finger? I bring it with my.mother’s blessing.” Octavia Wainwright’s dreamy eyes brightened out of their haze. Pride and ambitron obtained their fruition now. The coronet of the Falkners’ lay at her feet. Lhe white, gold fringed lids dropped slowly to the glow- Gomichboo cS €o