Weaker than a Woman — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

ax Ve 94 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. Sir Owen at all—she left him quite out of the question; but she talked incessantly of Felix, and always in the most — kind and pitying manner. She deplored his fate; shede- — clared it was the saddest she had ever known. ‘To think that a man so young and so gifted should be burdened with the maintenance of so large a family. She feared he would not have the strength to manage it. They were arranging a wardrobe one day, and the beau- tiful dresses so mysteriously sent for the fete lay within it. “Violet,” said Mrs. Haye, solemnly, “if I were you, lL would put those dresses away out of sight; you will never | want them again ; you will never have an opportunity of wearing them.” “Mamma, do you think I am going to live in a cloister ?” she asked. ‘No, my dear, certainly not; but I know where and how you are going to live. It will be ina small house on very limited means.’ “T shall go out at times, ” said Violet. “Yes, but you will not be invited to such places as Gars- | wood—it is out of the question; poor Felix could neither visit nor receive such people. And now that we are speak- ing of it, Violet, I think it would be just as well if you would try to learn-a little of domestic work. You have been foolishly brought up, I am afraid.” “Why should I learn to work, mamma?” she asked, looking at her hands, so white, so delicate, “Lam sure . Felix will never like to see me working.” “He will not be able to help it, poor fellow!” Mrs. Haye said, pityingly. “But you must look your future in the face, Violet; you cannot spend all your lite in waiting for him—waiting until your hair grows gray, and your youth only your dream; and, if you marry him, it must be to help him.”’ “So I will help him, mamma,” she replied. “That is quite right,” said Mrs. Haye, serenely. “I am glad to hear you say so. I should like you to understand what helping in this case means. Felix will have to keep up Vale House and maintain all his stepmother’s family. He will not, of course, have much to spare for himself: hence he will want all the care and economy possible in his household. You should learn to cook, to sew, to iron, to manage a house, for you will not be able to keep more than one servant, if you manage to do that.” “Mamma. !” cried Violet, in dismay, and she raised hse ) con a