Weaker than a Woman — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

_- WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. | 183 woman shrank from him as though he had struck her a blow. | No,” he rejoined, “it would not be possible. As the wife of another man, you are nothing to me; to enter intoa compact of friendship with you would be to endanger what I hope to keep stainless until I.die—my honor before men and Heaven. Our lives lie quite apart, and nothing can bring them into contact.” “Can I help you, Violet?” said a voice near them, and, looking up, Lady Chevenix saw the anxious face of her mother. Mrs. Haye bent over the music-books. “IT will assist my daughter, Mr. Lonsdale,” she said, coldly. Felix bowed and left them. “My dear Violet,” said Mrs. Haye, “how can you be so imprudent? Why do you talk to him? You will cause re- marks that will not please you.” “Mamma,” replied Violet, raising her white face, “he says that he will not even be friends with me.” “So much the better, my dear. Lady Chevenix, of Gars- wood, will choose her friends from among the highest in | the land, not from her old playfellows. Try to look like yourself, Violet.” : “T will, but I wish I were dead, mamma!” ‘Nonsense, child. See, Lady Maude is waiting for you. Come now, my darling Violet—courage; this is but child- — ish nonsense.” So with inspiring words she brought the smiles back to the sweet face, but in her heart she resolved that Lady Chevenix should see but little of Felix Lonsdale while she was there, and she kept her resolve. CHAPTER XXXIV. MANY CHANGES. Five years had passed since the peal of Violet Haye’s wedding-bells had driven her lover Felix almost mad, since the wonderful turn of good fortune had come to the Lonsdales and made them famous—five years, and they had brought with them many changes. The business and the fair fame of Lonsdale & Son had wonderfully increased ; - they were compelled to engage more clerks, to enlarge their offices. Times had marvelously changed. Mrs. Lonsdale had a pretty carriage now and no stint of silk dresses; the — (E(0) mn (E(oy payiicel eyrey(o)| << 2 Sn fe * — — ~ * -_ $ . 7 84d = = Oo a. ~ “aeagte na s **S*h »: 4 Aa*e.¥, ait «* lhe cs 4 - 2 : ~~ » 2 ed Pl le. han een age