A Struggle for a Ring — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

- 390 “J WILL NOT. FORGET.” And again the girl shrank as though she had received a blow. | ‘*Mamma, ” cried Lady Gertrude, ‘‘do not be too severe. I was cruel enough; I said some hard things to her; but to me—I cannot tell you why—but she does not look like a sinner.” "hee, ‘‘I do not know what you call a sinner,” said Lady Waldrove. ‘‘I know that she has by some base arts or foul means inveigled my son; she has diverted his atten- tion from a beautifut, high-born, noble woman, who would most gladly, I believe, have made him one of the best of wives; she has marred his life fora time. I say she ought __ tebe punished, Gertrude. It is the fashion to cry out against the men who do wrong; I say it is the fault of the women—such women as these, who lead men astray. _ What can slie éver do to atone for the evil she has done my son? Ailie stood facing’ the window, and the light fell full on her face, and her face riveted the attention of both ladies, It was as white as death—clear, calm, and pure, with a strange light that seemed to shine through it—one could have fancied it the light of a grand or noble soul. There was sorrow—utmost despair; but the two ladies who watched her so anxiously and so keenly could see there no guilt, no confusion, no sin, ‘«It is of no use prolonging this scene,” said the countess. ‘«T have learned my lesson; no more companions for me. _I have expressed my great disappointment in you, because I believed so implicitly in you; I have expressed my great horror of your sin and folly; my disgust at your daring ; my indignation that you should aspire even to look at my son! Now, I have no more to say, except to dismiss you.” (ee) comicbooks