A Struggle for a Ring — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

“KEEP MY NAME AND.RANK A SECRET.” 5g sne replied; ‘‘and it is quite true that all the little talent and culture I have came from Heisengen.” Without the least intention of showing him how much} she knew, for Ailie Carsdale was above all such vanity, she went on with her catalogue and her descriptions. She never thought of any one else being near her; she never Saw any one except her husband—the whole world seemed to hold no one else. Lord Carsdale heard some gentle- men who were standing near say, in French; ‘*What a clever girl; what wit; what originality; what ideas |” | He was delighted that his wife should be praised. Unfortunately, soon afterward they were standing near a group of Parisian ladies, and he overheard one say to the other: ‘‘What a beautiful girl—English, I am sure, by her outre dress.” That annoyed him. ‘« Ailie,” he said, afterward, ‘‘I do not understand such matters—are you dressed like other girls—ladies of your age?” ‘‘Yes, I think so,” she replied. ‘You do not know? You are not quite sure, then?” ‘‘No; Iam not quite sure,” she replied, frankly. ‘‘I chose my dress myself. It looks pretty.” ‘©VYes, it looks*pretty ; but is it the—the proper kind of thing, you know?” ‘*T cannot tell you, Vivian.” ‘¢Then,” he cried, hastily, ‘‘ pray go to a fashionable modiste and ask.” | ‘‘Are you annoyed with me?” asked the young girl, - wonderingly. Eomichoo ‘S m