A Struggle for a Ring — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

SISTER AND WIFE CONTRASTED. 103 ** Yes, I like him very much indeed,” she replied. ‘* But do you love him ?” She blushed—just the sweetest, faintest rose flush that ever covered a face, } ‘“Love him?” she repeated. ‘* What a question to ask me.” ‘It is a very natural question,” he cried. ‘‘Tell me, would you be his wife if he asked you?” She waited a few minutes before replying, then she said, gently : ‘* Yes, most certainly I would.” ‘* You would be quite happy as his wife, Linda?” ‘Ves, quite happy, Vivian.” ‘¢ Shall you be disappointed,” he continued, ‘‘if he does not ask you to be his wife?” ‘‘{—yes, I think I shall,” she replied. ‘‘ But what strange questions you ask me.” ‘* Will it be the duke or the man that you will rege ve he asked. And Lady Linda, after thinking for a moment, said’ ‘* Both.” Then he was content; he resolved to do all in his power to aid in the wooing. The duke arrived; and Lord Carsdale, who watched him closely, came to the conclusion that he did love his sister, and that all would go well. During dinner the conversation: turned upon one whom they had all known—Colonel Sefton—who had recently made himself famous by marrying an actress. The duke | spoke warmly of it. | ‘‘T have no patience,” he said, ‘‘with a man who com- mits a folly of that kind. No man ought ever to marry beneath him ; and if he does, he ought to descend to the <j (elo) Six mn