A Struggle for a Ring — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

154 AN ANXIOUS MOTHER. understand, I was ashamed of myself when I sang that song; why, even a baby would have understood me.” Her beautiful eyes filled with tears. ‘‘So many people have loved me,” she thought. ‘‘I have never cared for any one except him. I—I love him,” she added; ‘‘I love him, and I will remain unmarried all my life; I will marry no one but him. The Duke of Mouut Severne is as nothing compared to him. Others may think as they will, I maintain that Lord Carsdale is the handsomest man in England. I wonder why he does not love me, or, if he does, why cannot he say so?” They went the following morning; and as Lady Wal- drove stood at the window kissing her hand to the occu- pants of the carriage, she said : ‘“There goes the loveliest and the nicest girl in Eng- land.” Lady Gertrude, who stood by her mother’s side, said: “Thank you, mamma.” The countess turned to her quickly. ‘‘T mean no disparagement to you, my dear, but she is a most beautiful girl. Iam sorry to lose her.” ‘‘So am I,” said Lady Gertrude ; ‘and, mamma, I am quite sure that Vivian is most desperately in love with her. I saw tears in his eyes last night.” ‘‘ Has she refused him?” asked Lady Waldrove, quickly. -. **T do not know; he looks very miserable.” ‘‘She must have refused him, then,” thought Lady Waldrove, ‘‘and all my beautifully arranged scheme is at an end.” She could not rest until she had seen her son; then she went to him. ‘“Vivian, you are looking very unhappy this cra ; tell me, has Lady Ethel refused you?” Eomicboo Ss.