A Struggle for a Ring — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

A WIFE’S STRANGE POSITION. 319 ‘some of the days have seemed a century long, others have passed in a dream,” And Ailie, who heard the words as the speaker assed slowly by, said to herself that she would have sii er life for such words from him. She saw them in the ball-room, though she was not near them ; and she owned to herself that she had never seen two ‘people so perfectly well suited to each other—both so graceful, so handsome. She heard many whispers of ad- miration as they danced together. ‘‘T call such dancing as that a poem,” Captain Moore said to her. ‘‘I can understand now why people call it one of the arts—that is, the very perfection of movement.” And Ailie knew that it was true. Her husband did go near her; he seemed to remember suddenly what she had said about one kind word from him making her happy. She was standing by Lady Gertrude'’s side, having just taken a message from that lady to.one of the maids. Lord Carsdale spoke to his sister first, then he turned to Ailie. ‘‘Do you like dancing, Miss Derwent?” he asked ; and it was not until he saw the crimson flush that Barna her face that he remembered what a very awkward question he had asked. No,” she replied, ‘‘I do not like it.” And Lady Gertrude looked up in supercilious wonder. ‘Not like dancing! That is a strangely frank confes- sion. I thought all young girls liked dancing.” ‘‘T am an exception, then,” said Allie. But she did not look at her husband as she spoke; she - knew well that he understood the reason why. Then he spoke to her again. ‘‘In that case,” he said, ‘‘ you will hardly enjoy a ball. CS (ele) Gomichoo