A Struggle for a Ring — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

A PROUD FAMILY. 99 ‘* Yes, it was imprudent. Well, the end of the day’s pleasure was, they were too late for the return train, and the girl, living with strict relatives, would have been ruined for life had he not sacrificed himself and married her.” | ‘‘And wha/?’ cried her ladyship, ‘* Married her,” replied Lord Carsdale—‘‘ married her, to save her from blame and reproach.” ‘‘ How utterly absurd, Vivian! Pray do not repeat such astory; people will think you mad for retailing it. Mind! Floss does not like her ears pulled.” ‘‘Then you do not,see anything grand or heroic in such a marriage ?” he asked. ‘Grand! heroic! I hardly understand how you can talk.such nonsense. Common sense is better than heroism, and there is no common sense in that.” a ‘No, there is not. But what should you think of the man who did it, mother?” “Think?” said the Countess Waldrove. ‘*T am not addicted to harsh words, but in this case I must say the man was a simpleton for his pains. But never mind that foolish story, Vivian; I want to consult you about the Duke of Claverdon. I think you could ask him down for a week.” ‘¢Why do you want him here?” asked Vivian. ‘« My dear boy, what are you thinking of? Whata ques- tion !—fancied I had told you he liked Linda.” He looked up with a smile. ‘‘So my Linda is to be a duchess—Duchess of Claver- don.- She will have a good husband if she marries the duke.” : .** Ves,” said the countess; ‘‘and you. must not forget that if the duke marries Linda he will have a good wife,” a AHS (e(e) Eomicbooks