A Struggle for a Ring — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

DRESSING A_ RIVAL, 311 pleased to have taken the slight figure in his arms—to have said: ‘Look up, my gentle, loving wife; I will learn to care for you.” He knew the words would be false, so he did not utter them. Still he was a gentleman; he could not see a woman suffer without trying to console her. ‘¢ Ailie,” he said, ‘‘I will be more careful, I will never willingly give you pain. I have never been unkind to you, but for the future I will be more kind. Do you hear me, Ailie?” CHAPTER XLVI. DRESSING A RIVAL, ‘*Do you hear me, Ailie?” he repeated, for she had made him no answer. Then she raised her head and spoke with irresistible sweetness and dignity. ‘‘Ves, I hear you, and I thank you. You are very good to me—I have no right to complain. You will smile sometimes when your look meets mine. -—And some- times, when I meet you unseen by others, you will give me a kind word?” ‘‘Yes, I promise,” he said. It was hardly in human nature to see a beautiful, loving woman plead for a little kindness without giving it. ‘‘T will be content,’ she said, but the voice in which she spoke was surely the saddest voice ever heard. Then he rose. (E(0) mn (€ JOO (E(0)