A Struggle for a Ring — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

AILIE’S WELCOME. | 207 tended him to do, and there was no more said on the matter. Aijlie fulfilled her duties so faithfully that Lady Waldrove congratulated herself on having found a treasure. ‘Gertrude and Linda were always devoted to me,” she said to the earl, ‘‘ but this girl seems to live but to please me.” If she had known that Ailie was, after all, but trying to win her love, and that because she was her son’s wife, then Lucia, Countess of Waldrove, would have formed+a very different idea of her. Ailie was so patient. When the countess wearied of one book, she took up another ; if Floss, the old-established favorite, wanted an airing, she was never annoyed at having to take him; if Castor and Pollux, the new favorites, disputed, she was always ready to take the part of one or the other, The countess was altogether pleased. When Lady Gertrude, quite expecting either a long lecture or an indignant denial, wrote to ask if she might remain for some weeks longer with her sister, the Duchess of Claverdon, the countess answered yes, by all means; she had found a perfect treasure in her com- panion, and so hardly missed her daughter. ‘« Indeed, my dear,” she said to Ailie; ‘‘ you are almost like a daughter to me; you seem to know my wishes and . thoughts beforehand—you anticipate them very often. My child,” she continued, looking keenly at her, ‘‘you have tears in your eyes! How is that?” The beautiful eyes were dimmed ; there was the slightest quiver on the mouth that was beautiful enough to have belonged to a Greek goddess. ‘¢Tears in your eyes,’ repeated the countess. ‘‘ Now, why is that, I wonder? You have a mother of your own, ~ I think J have heard you say?” _ J have a mother whom I love very much,” says Ailie ; Eomic 900 (ee)