Weaker than a Woman — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 169 ture that no man could have seen without feeling his heart beat the quicker for it. Lord Arlington went forward to meet her. Like a foil to her bright and radiant loveliness, her dark-browed hus- band stood by her side. “You are right,” said Felix to Lady Maude; “sheis a thousand times more beautiful.” Lady Chevenix did not notice Lady Maude Bramber leave his side and go up to her. When she had exchanged a few words with her, she said : “An old friend of yours, Lady Chevenix, is here this evening.” And once more the two who had parted so tragically stood face to face. CHAPTER XXXI. THE MEETING IN THE GARDEN. Once more Violet and Felix Lonsdale stood face to face. They looked at each other fora moment in silence. To Felix there came back with a keen, bitter pain the memory of his passionate farewell; to Violet there came the sud- den, keen conviction that she was looking at the face of — the only man she had ever cared for. Lady Maude Arling- ton, much as she disliked the brilliant young beauty, felt pleased, after bringing the two together, that she had screened Lady Chevenix from observation, for she trembled —her face flushed crimson, and then grew white. Felix was the first to speak. He did not hold out his hands in greeting; he simply bowed and murmured some few commonplace words. “IT am very pleased to see you,” said Lady Chevenix, and the words had. a ring of truth that touched both listen- ers. With her usual smiling grace Lady Maude said : * We have a little time to spare—would you like to look at these photographs? ‘They are quite new, and finer than anything I have yet seen.” They sat all three round one of the pretty little tables that were covered with pictures and books. Lady Cheve- nix turned to Felix again. “TIT should like to see your father and Mrs. Lonsdale,” she said. “Are they well?” “They are quite well,” he told her, but he made no re- sponse to her desire of seeing them. “ He does not care at all about seeing me,” she thought; Eomichbooks €o m