A Struggle for a Ring — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

THE MEETING. 163 ‘IT do not complain,” said Ailie. ‘‘No; you are too generous—but I feel it for you. By all means, Ailie, if you would like to go to school, go; but then you are growing old—you cannot remain there very long.” ‘IT do not look old—I look young,” she said. ‘‘ Be- sides, Vivian, you will return—you will not always be absent. You will not be gone so many years, shall you?” ‘‘T cannot tell, Ailie. Another thing is, that even for years after I return things may go on just as they are—I cannot possibly tell—I see no limit; in fact, Ailie, I see no way out of the difficulty ; time may show us one—I do not see it. I repeat that I am sorry to my very heart that I led you into such a false position.” ‘‘] am not sorry, and I never shall be,” said Alice, suddenly. ‘‘The happiest moment of my life was the moment in which I first saw you.” The remembrance of his kindness to her—of the one happy day which seemed so long since passed—of the passionate love that filled her heart, all came over her again. She took his hand in her own and kissed it. ‘¢T am not sorry,” she said, ‘‘and I never shall be.” Then he roused himself from his gloomy thoughts. This sweet, loving, gentle girl was worth a few kind words at least. He looked more interested. ‘‘-Vou will do wisely, after all, Ailie, to go to school. I think, after all, the atmosphere will be more congenial to you than this is.” The words seemed to arouse her pride. She did not like to hear him speak disparagingly of her friends or her home. Se) suppose, ” she said, quickly, ‘‘that you have been (E(0) mm (C JOO