A Struggle for a Ring — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

130 THE SPELL WORKS. , great love. As it was, his lips quivered, and it was with difficulty that he commanded his voice. “‘T am delighted, Lady Ethel,” he said, ‘‘to have the honor.” Then the words seemed to him cold and unmeaning; it was more than an honor—an honor was nothing; this was the crowning event of his life, the crowning glory of his existence. The dark eyes flashed one look into his. Lady Ethel said something to him in the sweetest voice that he had ever heard; he could not tell what she said; the whole world seemed whirling round him; he saw the loveliest smile that woman’s lips ever wore. If he could have done so, he would have run away from it, but that could not be. ‘«T will leave you to entertain Lady Ethel, Vivian,” said the countess, moving away; and the sweet, silvery voice said, laughingly : ‘‘T do not think you will find that very difficult; I find amusement everywhere and in everything. I suppose I am happy because I am young.” ‘‘ Young people are not always happy,” he replied. ‘‘I should say that you are happy because every one loves you.” The brilliant young beauty sighed. ‘*Pray, Lord Carsdale,” she said, ‘*use any word in the world except ‘love’ to me.” ‘‘Do you dislike it?” he asked. “Yes, more than any word in the language,” she replied, at the same time thinking to herself that if ever she did allow any one to talk to her of love, it should be this handsome young lord of Roseneath. He talked to her for a few minutes, and then his reeling GComilcbooks:.