A Struggle for a Ring — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

254 UNHAPPY. thing yet which death did not hold, yet which poisoned life. The conversation during that dinner was witty, polished, and refined; yet, when it was ended, Alice re- membered that she had never spoken, had never uttered one word, and that no one, except Sir Joseph Legard, had spoken to her. It was Lord Carsdale who hastened to open the door as the ladies left the room. Once more she saw his eyes and Lady Ethel’s meet; then his eyes, blinded by what he had read, looked again at his young wife as she passed by with- out knowing her. When they reached the drawing-room, the countess, as usual, made herself very comfortable. She explained to every one that it was by the doctor’s advice she always closed her eyes for a few minutes after dinner; it invigor- ated her, she said, and gave her strength for the evening. It was Alice’s duty to sit near her, to ward off all intruders, to rouse her when the gentlemen came in. She saw Lady Ethel take a cozy-looking chair; she laid her head back on the soft, downy pillow, but not to sleep—not to sleep. There was a sweet, soft, brooding light in her eyes, a happy, pleased smile of entire content playing round her lips; her thoughts were pleasant ones—that much Alice felt sure. Lady Ethel spoke to no one; she seemed lost in some happy dream. The gentlemen came in then, and Alice roused the countess, Lord Carsdale came to speak to her. If he could but have seen the pale, beautiful face, with its in- tense pathos and beauty, so near him; but Alice hid it with her hands. He would have to recognize her, but the recognition must not take place in public now. She read that in his face which made her shrink from it. He went comicbooks (e(0)