A Struggle for a Ring — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

A MEETING, AND A PROMISE. 19 ‘*T will find her,” said Alice, ‘‘at once, if you wish.” ‘“No, never mind, I thank you;” then he looked at her more earnestly. ‘‘Are you related to Mrs. Chawner?” he asked, abruptly. _ **No,” she replied; ‘<I am the doctor’s niece.” Again the dark eyes opened wider with wonder. ‘The doctor! I did not know that he had any rela- tives; he never speaks of any.” ‘‘No,” said Alice, with simple candor, that charmed him. ‘‘We are poor relations; he is not likely to speak of us.” ‘“You may be poor,” thought Lord Vivian, ‘‘but you are beautiful enough to be an empress.” Alice looked at him again with some little perplexity in her face. ‘“Would you be kind enough not to say that you have seen me?’ she said. ‘‘My unclé forbade me to leave this part of the house, and he would be annoyed if he knew.” ‘*T will not mention it,” said Lord Vivian. He was not exactly in love with her, but he thought her the most bewitchingly beautiful girl he had ever seen. It was only natural that, having this little confidence established be- tween them, they should talk for a few minutes longer. — Then Lord Vivian said, suddenly: ‘‘I must go, or some one will find me here.” He had forgotten the wounded fingers, ‘‘I do not like to think, though, that I shall never see you again. Yet you are guarded like a state prisoner. Would you like to see me again—do you care for it ?” Sweet, simple Alice! She looked for one half moment into the depths of those dark eyes, then her own fell, ‘boo ’ el oe EGomie rp ges Sha co €=)