A Struggle for a Ring — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

A CRUSHED FLOWER. 285° ‘* Still I have bribed you. . I have sent for Lady Ethel.” _ ‘There was one moment of embarrassed silence, during which husband and wife again looked at each other. ‘*That will not bribe me, mother,” he said; ‘‘but if you wish me to stay I will.” Then, with his usual sunny humor, he made himself agreeable to her—told her absurd anecdotes of military life at Gibraltar; he played with the dogs, decided that Castor had more than ordinary intelligence; and in the midst of his efforts to please his fine lady-mother, the door opened again, and Lady Ethel entered the room. . CHAPTER LXII, A CRUSHED FLOWER. ae Lady Waldrove looked up at the beautiful woman with a — smile. ‘‘] am not given to poetry, Lady Ethel,” she said, ‘‘ but when I see you I always think of the bright sun chasing away the dark night. Come in—comeand join us. Vivian is telling me some excellent stories.” Lady Ethel went up to the couch whereon her MgEny ladyship lay. ‘* Make us all comfortable, Vivian,” said the countess ; ‘‘this is quite a family party. “Place that arm-chair here, ~ and take that footstool for yourself.” All of which he did with an air of great embarrassment, — Lady Ethel wondering why he was so unlike himself, Ailie listening with all her senses quickened by that jealous, pas- sionate, terrible love. (E(0) mn G 00 CO S.