A Struggle for a Ring — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

256 UNHAPPY. . “Do not,” he said; ‘‘you must not—I could not beard.” : Lady Ethel sat down again, making some faint excuse, while Alice wondered more and more what that meant. There must surely be something more than’tommon be- tween them, or they would never speak so. Why could he not bear to hear her sing? What was her singing to him ? What was he thinkmg of as he sat there, his handsome face darkling with emotion? Did he remember his young wife at all? Did he think of that one happy day at the regatta? Did he remember Rudeswell? Did he remem- ber the days at Paris? She could not hope so; he did not look as though his thoughts were with her. Then Lord Carsdale was asked to join some one at piquet. He passed close to her as he crossed the room—he even touched her dress in passing. His eyes wandered quite carelessly over her, then he went*tn his way. Later on Alice heard Lady Waldrove say to her son: “Do you still keep AP your old habit of smoking, Vivian?” “Yes,” he replied; ‘‘I never lose old habits, mother ; I take my cigar in the night air always, the last thing.” ‘‘Tf you smoke late in the grounds here, you will be taken for a poacher,” said my lady. He laughed carelessly. ‘That would not matter much, mother.” ‘* Not matter!” she said, in a horrified voice; ‘‘not mat- ter if you were shot as a poacher?” ‘‘ Every man has to die, mother; what matter scludtboan it be on land or water, by bullet or cold; it can be but once—what matter how?” His mother looked quite troubled. } Ss ' Ecomicboo , a3 (elo)