A Struggle for a Ring — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

TO WIN A HUSBAND'S HEART. — 201 had ever been in her life before, withdrew, leaving the two ladies alone. Madame looked pleased and contented—she had done an excellent day’s work; she had secured some one with whom’ she felt quite sure that the countess would be delighted ; besides which she had secured the school fee for one year at least of the same person. When they were quite alone Mrs. Howard looked at Se lady principal. ‘Do you think you have decided wisely?” she asked ; and madame answered : ‘‘Ves, There is a mystery about Miss Derwent; I see it as well as you; but I will engage that it is no discredit to her. She isa lady by nature, if not by birth, and over that I am not quite decided. Iam sure that she will prove a credit to me.” ‘‘T hope you are not mistaken,” said Mrs. Howard, gravely. ‘‘To me there is something mysterious in the whole affair. I have a presentiment, too, that we shall some time or other understand Miss Derwent’s motive, and that we shall not like it.” | ‘“My dear Mrs. Howard,” laughed madame, ‘‘if we concerned ourselves in that way, looking so far ahead for the result of every event, I am afraid that we should have little peace in life. I can see a comfortable kind of busi- ness matter before me, and I shall settle it.” When madame spoke in that tone Mrs. Howard knew quite well all further objections were quite useless, She said no more, and the matter was settled. On the day following madame wrote to the countess, saying that she had a young lady whom she could highly recommend, staying now in the house with her, and that _ she could only say she seemed to have been made for the mi ‘comicbooks.col