A Struggle for a Ring — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

A STARTLING ACCUSATION. 379 conduct which has brought disgrace on Roseneath such as was never known before !” ‘* Perhaps,” said Ailie, gently, ‘‘ you will be kind enough to explain, Lady Gertrude. I declare to you that I do not understand you.” “You will not understand !” was the angry retort. ‘‘ You know well enough what I mean. Why do you stand there trying to look innocent and surprised? You ought rather to fall on your knees and beg my pardon—mine and my mother’s !” ‘‘Lady Gertrude, what have I done?” asked Ailie. ‘‘What, indeed! you—you whited sepulcher! You have never imposed upon me, Ailie Derwent, never! When I see one of your type—dove eyes, meek, fair- haired, and gentle, I say to myself there is a whited sepulcher !” | ‘‘Tt seems to me very unjust. I did not make the color of my hair or my eyes, Lady Gertrude, nor do I know what I have done to annoy you.” She turned away, bewildered ; but Lady Gertrude spoke even more angrily. ‘You need not add insolence to your wickedness,” she said. ‘‘I was quite unwilling to speak to you. I think that any good and modest woman would be disgraced by any association with you. I told my mother that it was for her sake, and her sake alone, that I would consent to ex- change one word with you, and after this once—never again.” ‘Once more, Lady Gertrude, will you tell me what I have done?” She had forzotten her little excursion of the night be- fore; it never once occurred to her; and she tried in vain to think what Lady Gertrude could mean. Gomicboo (e(0) Li)