A Struggle for a Ring — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

LADY ETHEL. | 225 grace, just such spiritual loveliness, just such queenly dig- nity befitted one who should reign in those stately, time- honored walls. Lady Ethel believed herself quite alone; she did not see Alice. She swept up to the other end of the room and stood before the great western window; the sunbeams fell on her golden head, on the splendid rubies, on the lovely face, with its exquisite tints, on the graceful figure, on the gleam of the white, trailing silk; she stood there; her white jeweled hands clasped, looking intently on-the mar- velous landscape that could be seen from the window. Alice watched her intently the while; suddenly a warm flush overspread her face, a lovely light came into her eyes. Alice heard her murmur some low words to herself; then, thinking it better to make her presence known, she moved one of the books on the table. Lady Ethel gave one swift glance round, and as her eyes fell on Alice, a crimson flame burned her face. Alice came forward, and they stood looking at each other in silence—the two whose lives were so strangely in- terwoven. A greater contrast could not have been, although they were both fair of face, with golden hair; the one had the soft, patrician, proud loveliness of a queen, the other the sad, passionate beauty of a Greek muse, Alice spoke first. ‘‘T beg your pardon,” she said; ‘‘I am afraid I startled you. eget ‘‘Not at all,” replied Lady Ethel, courteously. ‘‘ Did you hear what I said? I have a most unfortunate habit of talking to myself.” | ‘‘No,” said Alice, ‘‘1I did not hear.” Then Lady Ethel smiled, and looked rolieved: She ‘glanced keenly at the beautiful girl whose dress of gray ? Gomichoo