A Struggle for a Ring — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

306 THE HUSBAND’S PROMISE. simply to ruin myself and to break the hearts of those dearest to me. I cannot do it; and, Ailie, in keeping that secret, 1 am doing you no wrong.” ‘“No wrong!” she repeated, mournfully. ‘‘ Perhaps not, as men view such things; a woman would tell you better. No wrong! yet my heart aches always with a pain that I cannot describe, that I could not tell.“’ I only know that I hunger and thirst for one kind word from you, and you never give it to me.” ‘‘But, Ailie, I must be prudent; I have done all that I can do; I see, now that I am older, our marriage was a terrible mistake, as all marriages without love are; but I have done my best under the circumstances, It is you, Ailie, who, by coming here, have so complicated matters. You might have been happy enough as Mrs. Nelson; you could have lived in all comfort and respectability. ” She looked up at him with a sudden fire of passion gleaming in her face. ‘“Do you know that I could quote Tennyson’s words to your” she said. ‘‘ ‘Comfort, scorned of devils,’ only that I fear they would shock you. I do not want comfort, or money, or anything else, but—a little love from you.” ‘‘ Love from me!” he repeated. ‘‘ Yes, love from you, Lord Carsdale. I would rather suffer any pain, any privation; I would rather be miser- able, and have at times one kind word from you, than be the happiest, the most brilliant of women, without these kind words.” ‘But, Ailie, there never was any question of love,” he said. : ‘‘J love you; and, Lord Carsdale, there should be a question of love. Do you think that I am .a marble statue? Do-you think that I have a heart of stone? Is it