Ruby's Reward — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

that Robert provided for you as long as he lived, and since his death you have been my special care, and Tshall consider you very ungrateful ifs you thwart all my plans for you,” Mrs. Gordon returned, with an injured air. “What plans, Estelle?” “Why, you must know that I desire to see you nice- ly settled in life—to have you oceupy a position be- coming your birth and education.” “In other words, your heart is still set upon my marrying Mr. Carpenter?” “Heis very rich; he would wake you an excellent husband. You would never want for anything.” “T should not want for anything but happiness, which I should never have. Estelle, you and I had better understand each other, once for all. Z shall never marry Edmund Carpenter, - have told you so once before; but if IT knew I should have to live single all my life otherwise, and work for every mor- sel | ate, T would never be his wife. And now I want to tell you that I know you have not been dealing fairly with me—that you have lent yourself to an ignoble scheme to eutrap me in some Way, so as to bring this about,” “What do you mean?’ interrupted Mrs. Gordon, with an angry flush. “You need not feign ignorance, Estelle, and I in- tend to tell you all that I know, for I have made up my mind to aecttle this matter to-night, and for all time,” replied Ruby, with a resolution that astonished her sister. “I know that you have deceived me about coming here to spend the summer; itis all a plot between you and Mr. Carpenter to comproinise me. Ldonotknow just how, nor how far you would have earried your schemes, but even the matter of obligation that Lhave unconsciously incurred is more than Iean tamely submit to. I know Mr. Edmund Carpenter owns this place, and what we pay is nota Sg in return for what we are Saat ge that the orses and carriages which we have been using sa freely, instead of belonging to a ‘zent One enOAe