A Struggle for a Ring — page 334: what you’re looking at

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

330 “DO YOU LOVE ME?” ‘<I could never think you either, Ailie,” he replied. ‘‘A hope came to me; I think that I love my husband just as much as Griselda loved hers, and I am quite sure that I could do as much for him.” He started ; it seemed so strange to him even now, that he should i her husband, while Lady Ethel loved him, and he loved her. ‘‘T have been wondering and hoping whether, if I am patient and loving as she was, you will ever learn to care for me, I must not wait to hear your answer; I only came to thank you. You are not angry with me?” ‘‘No, lam not angry; how could I be?” Again the warm, sweet lips touched his hand, and the next moment she had left him as quietly as she came. He stood up in despair. ‘Where, from earth to heaven, am I to look for help?” he said. ‘‘I cannot break that loving, gentle heart. I cannot always acta lie. I see no way out of the difficulty into which my own folly has plunged me.” CHAPTER XLIX. ‘“pDo YOU LOVE ME?” Lord Carsdale was tossed on the sea of doubt > he suf- fered more bitterly for this one act of folly than some peo- ple suffer for a terrible sin; he could find no rest, no refuge for his thoughts, no comfort; he stood as it were, between two women, each young arid tender cf heart; one he loved dearly, the other had the greatest of all elaitis on (€ @) % | eomicbooks