Weaker than a Woman — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

134 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. Felix thought her strange—but he had almost ceased to wonder at anything. Then he met his old friend, Doctor Ludlow. He stopped and spoke to him. ‘“T ought to be very busy with my work,” he said, “but those bells distract me. I have had to put away my writ- ing. What are they ringing for, doctor?” And the kind-hearted doctor looked sadly at him. ‘ Have you not heard?” he asked. “No—I hear so little—I am so busy always. What is it for ?” But the doctor could not tell him. “Go as far as the church,” he said, “the walk will do you good this beautiful morning. Ask the ringers—they are sure to know.” He had not the time to spare, but the morning was fine, and some strange instinct that he could not account for hurried him on. “Why are you ringing this merry chime to-day?” he asked of one of the ringers, a white-headed old man, whose arms were wearied, and who sat resting on one of the green geTaves. ‘Why? Because the great Sir Owen is married to-day, Master Lonsdale.” ‘Married !” cried Felix. ‘ Married to whom ?” The chiming ceased, and the wind fell as the old man answered : “Married to Violet Haye.” CHAPTER XX VI. THE EARL’S PROMISE. There are no finer woods in England than the woods that surround Bramber Towers. Bramber isa glorious estate, and the woods extend to Lilford. They form the massive background of trees which helps to render the old church so picturesque and artistic. The Earl of Arlington,master of the Towers, had but one fault in the eyes of the county—he was too fond of travel- ing. It was no unusual thing for the Towers to be closed for two or three years, while the earl, with his wife and daughter, delighted in fair Continental cities. It was the one drawback to a noble character, for Lord Arlington was one of those fortunate men who are born with a keen sense of duty. He was a model landowner, a model land- lord, a model country gentleman, When he wasatthe — comicbooks.c