A Struggle for a Ring — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

} “LULL NOT FORGET.” 389 ** No,” said Ailie ae drove.” The cour ts looked very angry. ‘“Tt is the first time ol she said, ‘‘ that anything like dis- grace has fallen on my \ouse. ” Ailie shuddered at théyverd, but she let it pass. She had gone through the bittémess of death already ; what they chose to call disgrace’ ‘mattered little ; it couid not hurt her. Yet she shuddered and> Brivdeked under it, as one keenly feels a severe blow.. © \~ ‘*« Have you nothing to say ?” asked | t ‘‘ Have you neither excuse > to. urge, parc to atone for < ‘‘T do beg your pardon,” said Ailie, quietly, § anxious moment that I have caused you.’ con The countess was gradually working pemelt up into a, | BS 1 have nothing to say, Lady Wal- i angrily. = a ere " fever of rage. ey | ‘I suppose,” she said, ‘‘it will be the old story; you~ will try to make what you can out of it, Iknowthewhole —§ © shameless routine. You will, perhaps, take legal meas- ures. You will cover an ancient name with the blackest disgrace. You will bring all kinds of actions against my | son. You will claim money. I know it all so well.” S ‘¢T shall do none of these things, Lady Waldrove,” said the girl, gently; ‘‘not one.” -“*So much the better. I would not have such a dis- grace as this come to Lady Ethel’s ears for the whole world.” ‘Tt will not by any fault of mine,” said Ailie. ° ‘‘What guarantee have I of that?” asked the countess, with a sneer. ‘¢VYou have my word and my honor,” answered Ailie. ‘‘Unless you keep the first better than you kept the last, it will be but a poor guarantee,’ said my lady. ; ~ | hn ae 5 _.-comicbooks.com - a a -