A Struggle for a Ring — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. 28r again every word of that interview, every incident, every change in his face, in his voice—there could be no rest for her. She owned to herself that she had seen surprise, wonder, bewilderment, but not love ; she owned to herself that his first emotion on seeing her was one of annoyance, but all that would be ended, and he would love her in time. It was useless to lie there with the lovely summer sun shining round her, the song of the birds filling the air; she would go out again and see if the cool, sweet wind would still the fever that ran hot in her veins. She dressed and went out again, through the cool shade of green woods this time, and the soft light, the sweet music, the perfume of the flowers, did what her own thoughts could not do—dquieted her. ‘The breakfast-bell was ringing when she re-entered the Abbey. She hastened to Lady Waldrove’s room, but the countess had gone to her morning-room, where Ailie followed her. ‘¢T have not slept well,” said my lady, languidly. ‘I cannot tell why; Iam not quite myself. Ishall rest here in this room; and, Miss Derwent, you can read to me; if you read me to sleep so much the better.” Lady Waldrove looked well enough, but Ailie knew that even her fancies were serious matters, The maid was dispatched to say that Lady Waldrove would be pleased to see Lady Ethel in her morning-room, also to ask Lord Carsdale if he would join the countess. No one saw or cared that the fair face of Ailie Derwent flushed hot crimson as she heard. She looked very beautiful that morning; the countess had expressed a half wish that she would wear gray dresses always; she did not like to see her in anything else; and, as the matter was one of perfect indifference to Ailie, she. qe) - fie Eomicboo ‘S. mn | .