Weaker than a Woman — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

Pe ‘ * ._ . <« - Pe ueete Fh ae i phe de a oes o* “> : ? en ee ¥ < ' - —s Z . s "=> WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. © 993 “Take less of that, Sir Owen,” he said, “or you will kill | yourself.” “Well, I have to die, and I may justas well die taking what I like as taking medicine. Some men have more to live for than I have. Iam very fond of my wife, but she does not care much about me, and I have no child. I really believe, Lonsdale, that I should be quite a different man if I had a child.” “You have plenty to live for, Sir Owen. You have your duty to do on earth, yet more, you must think of a future life,” said Felix. “T can pay other men to do my duty, and, as to a future life—well, I have not been able to decide about that yet.” “It is high time you did so,” said Felix, gravely, and Sir Owen laughed. “IT have no thought of dying yet, Lonsdale; indeed, I dare not die if all that the parsons say is true. Let us talk about something more sensible. Are you going to work again to-day ?” “The work has to be done, and I suppose I must do it. The leases have to be signed this morning.”’ “T will sign them before I go,” said Sir Owen. “Iam going out this morning, because I do not feel like myself. I am out of spirits; a cloud is hanging over me. I shall have a good gallop, and see if I cannot clear away the heaviness.’ Felix went to his work, which on this morning was in the library, and before he had been there very long Lady Chevenix entered. “TI did not know that you were here,” she said. ‘Shall I be in the way? I have some letters to write.” He placed a chair for her, and then looked at her face. Across the soft cheek was the mark of a violent blow. “It is not very painful,” she said. Presently Sir Owen came in to sign the papers. He seemed very much ashamed of himself when he saw the bruise on his wife’s face. He took her to the great oriel window, and they stood there for some time talking; then Lady Chevenix came back to her place, and Sir Owen went out of the room. Violet and Felix went on writing in silence, when there came a tap at the door. Sir Owen’s groom wanted to know if he might speak to her ladyship for a few minutes. Lady Chevenix bade him come in. The man stood before her, cap in hand. “My lady,” he said, “I beg your pardon; I must make Eomichboo s) nm (E(e)