Weaker than a Woman — page 225: what you’re looking at

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216 ate. WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. know them, and you belong in some measure to them. T- may tell you that Lady Chevenix lives in mortal fear of her husband.” “Why?” asked Felix. | ‘‘He has been very violent to her many times. It is not long since she had to send for Mrs. Haye, being afraid of losing her life. She has refused to be left alone since then. That is why I have been with her so long, and why I am glad you are here.” “But,” said Felix, “he loves her—he must love her.” “TI say nothing about that. He may love her, or he may | not, but, when he is half mad with drink, she has reason to be alarmed.” “T cannot think that even then he would hurt her,” sate Felix. “Well, it is very pleasant to have such cheerful views of things. I should be glad if I could share your faith, but unfortunately I have seen bruises on. her arms and marks on her face, such as, if I had been a man, would have made me feel inclined to call Sir Owen out.” She saw the handsome face of the man before her grow pale with emotion. She saw his strong hands tremble and his fingers clench tightly. She talked until the storm of passion had passed over him. “T cannot bear to think of any woman being ill-used,” he gaid; “itis one of the things that irritates me and makes me angry with an anger that frightens me. But Lady Chevenix is so gentle, so amiable, I cannot understand any man being unkind to her.” ~ “T can understand anything Sir Owen does, ” rejoined Miss Hethcote. ‘Mr. Lonsdale, you will be kind to her?” she pleaded. “Believe me that a peasant-woman working in the fields, or a factory girl In a mill, is happier than Lady Chevenix of Garswood.” “Tam grieved to hear it‘” he said, and then Miss Heth- — cote left him. She went away early the next morning, never dreaming of what would happen before she saw Garswood and its mistress again. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE BLOW IN THE FACE. On the morning after Miss Hethcote’s departure Sir Owen did not come down to breakfast, but Felix met his valet — - o~e - 4 lit comicbooks.com — m : * M > Aon C. e x ~ —- 4 of: “ 4 * » See P hae : re) re yes Ro: