Weaker than a Woman — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

188 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. sounded at night when all the house was still. She grew alarmed at last, and sent for Mrs. Haye. That philosophical lady said nothing to the fierce, angry man who was beyond reasoning with, but she sent for a physician, and the appearance of a doctor frightened him into better behavior. Lady Chevenix would not part with her mother. } “You must stay with me, mamma,” she said. “I have been through scenes that would make you shudder, and I have lost all heart—quite lost all heart. You must stay with me.’ Mrs. Haye was one of those women who, even when alone, never undervalue appearances, and she alwaysmoved and spoke as though people were looking at her. She merely answered— ‘“T shall be very pleased, indeed, to stay with you until your husband is stronger and better, my dear.” . And it was arranged that she should do so. Lady Chevenix stood waiting for her now. As she stood there, so tall and stately, with such ineffable beauty and grace in face and figure, she did not look like one who had lost her heart. Her girlish loveliness had developed into womanly magnificence, but there was little trace in her of Violet Haye, the sweet girl coquette—little trace of the girl who had loved Felix Lonsdale, or even of the woman who had asked him so piteously to be “friends” with her. A darker sheen lay on the golden hair, a deeper light lay in the lovely eyes, the red mouth had not its wonted smile. One could see at a glance that the years had embittered. her. She had not grown soft and tender, but stern, proud, and cold. She had hardened her heart, and tried to care for nothing but the wealth and luxury she now possessed. She looked exquisitely beautiful; her morning-dress fell in artistic folds, a tiny cap of white lace and blue ribbon lay lightly on her golden head. Yet, though she was so wonderfully lovely, and was surrounded by all that was most desirable, she did not look lke a happy woman. She raised her eyes as her mother came into the room. “Mamma,” she said, holding out the paper, “I wish you would read this and tell me what to do.” Mrs. Haye took the paper from her daughter's: hand and read it. “The Loomshire Hunt Ball,” she said. ‘Of course you are going ?”’ “That is what I want to know, mamma. You see, Sir Owen is one of the stewards, If I show it to him, and he - <. A Bo 3 comicbooks col m , » ty 7 ‘ ¥s et, af de *? . a. & P eu rhe. AP a erkeede Wink. one