A Struggle for a Ring — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

A WIFE’S STRANGE POSITION. 321 | Ailie knew the room well; it was one leading from the large drawing-room. Wondering what could be. Lady Ethel’s object in sending for her, she went. There, in the little room, which shone, and gleamed, and glistened like a huge jewel, she saw Lady Ethel and Lord Carsdale. Lady Ethel came to her with a bright, persuasive smile. ‘‘Miss Derwent,” she said, ‘‘you have been so good- natured that I am not afraid to take a liberty with you. - See this spray of roses—it has become unfastened in the dancing, and I am afraid to ask any one to fasten it who does not understand it. Would you be so kind as to help me?” ‘‘T will do it with pleasure,” said Ailie; but as she spoke she did not look once toward her husband. She felt, rather than saw, that he stood watching her. She raised the spray of roses in her hand. ‘‘I shall want a needle, Lady Ethel,” she said, quietly; ‘‘I will not keep you long.” She hurried away. When she returned they were talk- ing so earnestly that she felt some little embarrassment at interrupting them. Lady Ethel turned to her with another kindly smile. ‘‘ How good you are!” she said. Then Ailie began her work, and for a few minutes there was silence. It was a strange scene—the brilliant little room that with mirrors, lusters, and girandoles was like one shining gem; the tall, handsome man, with his bronzed face and soldier- like bearing ; the beautiful woman, with the rich clouds of white lace and the fire of scarlet roses; the lovely, pale’girl id in plain gray dress, whose only ornament was her wealth of — golden hair—a strange scene, and, to one who could have understood its tragic realities, of no little meaning. cS (ee) Eomicboo