Weaker than a Woman — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

: > _* v7] gl ret jong’ od 5 7 4 4 4 wars eS) > * : * WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 203 Lester—the niece of a certain strong-minded Miss Lester who lives at the Outlands. You must know her—of course you know her !” “Yes,” was the quiet reply, “I know Eve Lester.” “You ought to like her, too. I quite admire her. I have not seen such a pretty face for some time—yours, of course, excepted, Miss Hethcote,” he added, laughingly. ‘Lady Chevenix’s face excepted, you mean,” said Miss Hetheote; “hers, indeed, is a most beautiful face, Sir Owen.” “There is too much of pride and defiance, or rather pride and indifference,” he laughed, “in my lady’s face. Now this girl Eve Lester is as fair and sweet as a dove; she reminded me of a dove, so fair and gentle is she.” “Very sweet people are apt to be very inane,” said Miss Hethcote. “Tnane or not, I wish you would invite her to the party, Violet.” “T will do so with pleasure, but Ido not think she will come.” “Why not?” he asked, impatiently. “Because, though we were friends once, we are not friends now,” said Lady Chevenix. “Then you must be friends, Violet. JI am determined to have her at the gathering. I hiked her sweet, fair face.” “My dear Owen,-I would do anything to oblige you or please you, but 1 cannot make any overtures of friendship to Eve Lester.”’ “ But lL say you must, Violet.” “Tam sorry that I cannot. If you are determined that Miss Lester shall come, you must go yourself and invite her.” “Tt is the usual way if I want anything,” he said, angrily. “IT can have everything except the one thing most desired. I only wish that I had had the sense to make such a girl as that Lady Chevenix ; there would have been no opposition to my wishes then.” “lam quite sure that I wish the same thing,” rejoined Violet, quietly. “Do you? I might have expected such a confession from you,” he exclaimed. All that was disagreeable seemed to be forgotten when the day of the fete arrived. The party was likely to bea wonderful success. All the elite of the neighborhood had assembled, The sun was bright, the trees were in luxuriant _ Eomicbooks (e(e)