Weaker than a Woman — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 167 “They must meet some time,” she said to herself, in dis- may; “perhaps it will be better here than elsewhere. lL shall be at hand to help him if he requires help.” She said nothing to any one, but awaited the course of events. : The dinner was given in honor of Lord Rayden, a great statesman, who was visiting the earl, and Lord Arlington was both pleased and proud to introduce his young and gifted protege to his friend. Colonel Riddell was invited— he would not have gone had he known that he was to meet Sir Owen, whom he detested—also Lady Rolfe, her daugh- ter Lavinia, and several other friends. It was awarm day, and the green shade of the foliage all about Bramber Towers was cool and inviting. The dinner hour was fixed for seven. “There is no keeping people indoors on these fine sum- mer nights,” said the earl, “so we may as well be pre- pared to spend the evening out-of-doors.” Lady Maude only hoped the evening would pass as pleas- _ antly as her father seemed to anticipate. She alone knew what rival interests would beat play. She would have been better pleased had there been time to send a messen- ger to Felix to tell him who were to be present, but there was not time. She resolved to dress early and wait for him. He should not be seen to disadvantage. She knew that he was coming early; he had some papers that her father wished to see, and they had arranged it so. Lady Maude was the first in the drawing-room, and, to her great delight, Felix came in soon afterward. She was wonderfully proud of him. As Lady Maude looked at him she thought to herself that there could not be a finer, hand- somer, or nobler-looking man in England than he was. There was a warm friendship between the two. Felix would have done anything in the world for the noble, beau- tiful woman who had seemed to him like an angel of com- fort in the darkest hour of his life; he had the greatest reverence, the greatest esteem for her; he knew that he owed all his good fortune to her kindly influence with the earl. And Lady Maude was very fond of him. She watched his career with pride and hope; she had a feeling almost of proprietorship in him, but for her he might have gone to the bad. So now she waited for him, and, when he had spoken a few words of greeting to her, she said: “I was waiting for you, Mr. Lonsdale; I have something to tell you. I know you area brave man; this evening I shall see your bravery put to a severe test.” we . | Gomicbooks (e(@) m