A Struggle for a Ring — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

: 22 A MEETING, AND A PROMISE. ‘‘And you would like to have one day quite happy—to think of ever afterward ?” ‘Indeed I should, Lord Vivian.” ‘“‘Then I will show you how we can have it. not leave here until Saturday, but lam going on Thursday morning to avoid the great nuisance of the year—the school /é/e. ‘The doctor goes, his students go, his servants go—I detest it. On Thursday there is a grand regatta at Fernbay. We will goif you like—if you are brave enough. I will show you how. Fernbay is thirty miles from here. When I say good-by to the doctor here, instead of going I need home, I shall, without saying a word to him, go to Fern- bay. Then you will find every one goes early to the fee— be sure the doctor will not invite you—you may be equally sure that the servants will never think of you; between the two you will be quite safe. Then, when they are all gone, go down to the station and take the train to Fern- bay. I will meet you there; we will have the grandest _ day you can imagine,*and I will bring you back in the evening. , You will reach home before they do—they do not break up till after ten; you will be home by nine. Then the servant who admits you will think you have come home alone from the /ée/e; those who return from the fete will think that you have spent the day in the house. Are you brave enough for this, Alice?—I like Alice better than Miss Derwent.” She sighed deeply. It was a terrible temptation—a whole happy, sunny day spent with this handsome man, who admired her so greatly. No harm done; no wit- nesses to tell. It was a great temptation. ‘‘T am afraid,” she said, faintly. v ‘“The woman who deliberates 1s lost or won,” laughed Lord Carsdale. ‘‘ You need not fear. See, I was so sure - (ele) cboo s.co