Violet Lisle — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

TWO ARISTOCRATS. 37 lingtons trace themselves only to one Hugh Darling, who, in the seventh Henry’s time, rose by dishonorable prac- tices from the bake-shop to the peerage, to the scandal of the gentry of that day?” Lady Darlington turned scarlet. She could not deny the truth of what was said to her, but it seemed the very madness of pride in the man that gave him the audacity to say such a thing. She rose from her chair witha _ stately ignoring of what he had said. “Then I may count on you to aid my efforts to prevent - this unfortunate affair going any further ?” “You have my assurance, in the first place, that the affair has no existence outside of the disordered brain of your unhappy son, and in the next place that I would never permit my daughter to contract so damaging a mis- alliance. I would be chary of offering any advice in the matter, Lady Darlington, but since you have done me the honor to consult me I would suggest Sir William Doyle, _ of London, as an expert in nervous disorders. You have my utmost sympathy for the unfortunate young man. I trust he will evenutally recover his mental balance. Good-day, Lady Darlington.” Lady Darlington had had the worst of the encounter, and was going away with a singular hatred of the inno- cent cause of it. Even the stinging sarcasm and fanatical _ pride of the father she could forgive, because she conld understand it, but the power of an unknown gir! to cause _ her to be the participant in two such interviews in the game day she could not forgive. It was therefore more _ with a threat against her than against Melville Lisle that 2S she turned at the door of the cottage, and said to the latter: “Perhaps it is unnecessary for me to say if by any un- _ foreseen contretemps my son should marry without my consent I would disinherit him. His title, with the smali ' income that goes with it, would be of little value to a woman marrying him for wealth and position.” “Tt is extremely gratifying to be taken into your con- fidence about your family affairs, Lady Darlington, and if _ your poor child should come to me I will not fail to repeat what you say. Soothing measures, however—ah, I wish you good-day,” and he bowed courteously as she stepped into her carriage and was driven off. He closed the door gently enough, but when, that, done all the pent-up fury burst forth in an angry sum- A =