A Struggle for a Ring — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

- SISTER AND WIFE CONTRASTED. IOI that if the dark-eyed, low-voiced Lady Linda could secure such a prize she was indeed a fortunate girl. The question was, would she secure him? Would he continue at Roseneath those attentions he had paid her when in London? Lord Carsdale loved Lady Linda; she was very gentle, very affectionate; she was warm and true of heart; he relied greatly upon her, and now he was intensely interested for her. A girl so completely and thoroughly well-bred as the Lady Linda Carsdale only permits familiar acquaintance with the most eligible of men. Had his grace of Claver- don been poor or nameless, she would not have looked at him. Cominy before her with all the prestige of rank, wealth, and position, she had found him irresistible. The great ladies of the great world do not take love as the grand, serious passion more commonplace women believe it to be. Had the duke raised his hat and ridden away, Lady Linda would have sighed ; she might even, in the darkness and silence of her own room, have shed a few tears, but she would have welcomed the next most eligible man after the duke. Great ladies marry for position, for rank, for honor; if love goes with it, so much the better; if not— well, the good things of this world give a delight all their own. ; The duke was expected to arrive on Tuesday evening, about an hour before dinner, and Lord Carsdale awaited, with some anxiety, the entrance of his favorite sister into the drawing-room. She came in, looking very nice; her beautiful figure and sweet, refined face had a great charm. She was beautifully dressed in pale amber silk that was*almost covered with white lace; a superb gloirede Dijon rose in her hair and Ss. Eomicboo.