A Struggle for a Ring — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

‘AN OLD MAN CHEERED. 75 She gladdened Hettie’s heart by giving her a pretty brace- let; but that young person’s curiosity was aroused. ‘‘ When shall you have a home, Alice? Where are you going to live? You have been on what people call ‘the honeymoon,’ I suppose? What nonsense it is. Where are you going to live?” ‘Mr. Nelson’s plans are all unsettled ; he talks of going abroad,” replied Alice. ‘‘T should not let him. If I had a handsome husband like that I should keep him at home,” said Hettie. Then the, little conclave was broken up. _ Lord Carsdale returned. The little, dark, dirty house seemed to look darker and dirtier when he stood init. The dancing-master awaited him with some common, strong cigars and a bottle of rum. : ‘‘T hope, sir,” he said, ‘‘you will give me the pleasure of your company for an hour or two while the ladies are out of the way. ‘Try a cigar, sir; and this is real Jamaica, old and strong.” Lord Carsdale shuddered. ‘*Thank you,” he said; ‘‘I never smoke, and I do not like strong liquors.” ‘*Nor do I hold with them as a rule, sir, but this fgthe exception—my eldest daughter returns home, and I may say my favorite daughter too, sir.” . There was such genuine emotion in his voice that again Lord Carsdale’s heart was touched. ‘<Poor little man,” he said to himself, ‘‘it is an event in his life—he shall enjoy himself. I declare that I am sorry for him,” | So he entered into the spirit of the scene, to the little , dancing-master's keen delight. ; cS (ee) EOomMmicboo