A Struggle for a Ring — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

— ~ 96 A PROUD FAMILY. He had not, as the countess pompously phrased it, ‘‘de- _clared himself,” but she felt quite sure that, sooner or later, he intended to propose for her daughter. The Ladies Carsdale were not precisely beautiful; as their brother always said, they were ‘‘thoroughbred.” They were both tall, with fine dark eyes, and dark hair, richly colored faces, with very beautiful mouths. They were very elegant and accomplished, very proud, believing almost implicitly, as their parents did, that the world was made for the Waldroves. Neither of them could have loved or — married an inferior in station. The Lady Gertrude permitted herself to like Lord Raw- don because he was a most eligible match. The countess had a nearer and dearer hope still. That season in town the Duke of Claverdon had requested an introduction to the Lady Linda, and had seemed very - much. taken with her. He had danced, flirted, sung! rode, and driven with her; but the expected proposal had not followed. Now, to see Lady Linda Duchess of Claverdon was the wish nearest to her mother’s heart; that was one reason why she wanted to see her son. She thought that - he could, with better grace than herself, ask the duke to Roseneath. | ‘<She would make a charming duchess,” thought Lady _ Waldrove, as she watched her daughter. ‘‘I hope Vivian will be able to suggest something.” _ She did not profess to be a very fond mother; she sel- dom went into raptures over her children; but her heart beat fast and her face flushed when her handsome, lordly son entered the room. If she really loved anything on . earth, it was Vivian; she idolized him; all her hope and -ambition were centered on him; she thought him the most handsome, the most clever, the most gifted of human - \ ord (elo) =) ‘comicboo