A Struggle for a Ring — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

162 | THE MEETING. teach me that which I cannot learn at home, for instance— all those little niceties of manner that every lady shou!d learn. I thought if I could acquire this it would make me a better companion for you—I should not shock you as I do now. I—oh, Vivian, you are not listening to me!” For in his eyes had come a dreamy expression, as though his thoughts were far away. ‘“Yes, indeed, Ailie, I am listening; you thought of going to school. Why? I did not quite understand.” «*So that I might be more like you and less distasteful to you,” she replied, still with the same feeling of quiet despair. Then he roused himself. She 3 was thinking that in the years to come they would be companions; he was think- ing that, as in all human probability they would never live together, it would be useless for her to make herself more unfit than she was already for home. ‘‘] have a dream,” she said, in a low, sweet voice, ‘‘of making myself a lady—a lady like those who live in your grand world; then—but I must not tell you what comes after then.”’ ‘If that gives you pleasure, Ailie, you must do it,” he said. ‘‘But,’ cried the girl, with a quick, petulant movement, ‘‘what do you say about it? Are you pleased? Do you mistrust? Have you no interest in it? If you are not interested, I do not care.” The tone of her voice roused him. ‘‘ What a little spitfire you are, Ailie—I did not know that you had so much spirit. Certainly, I am interested, dear. Can I ever do enough to atone to you for the posi- tion in which my reckless folly has placed you?” S (€ @) "comichoo