Weaker than a Woman — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 995 that I will ride Plantagenet, and I mean to do so; nothing on earth shall prevent me.” She cried aloud in her distress. Felix interposed. : “TI should enjoy a gallop this fine morning, Sir Owen, ” he said. “Shall I go with you?” “As my head-nurse, eh, Lonsdale? No, thank you. I can take care of myself very well, indeed.” For more than half an hour the three—the true friend, © the anxious wife, and the faithful servant—reasoned in vain. They could never reproach themselves in after days that they had not done their best, but their words were as vain as the beating of tiny wavelets against a sturdy rock. sir Owen would ride Plantagenet, and there was an end of it. The only compromise that Lady Chevenix could effect was that he should take the groom with him. “Tf it will please you, Violet,” he said, ‘I will do so.” He thought himself very eood-natured in ceiving way so far. She liked to remember afterward that she went up to him and said : “Owen, I would do anything in the world for you, if you wouid give up this mad idea—anything! Do please me _ this once.” | He kissed her, and then got into the saddle. *T shall be back to dinner all right,” he told her. “I may be rather late, for I shall ride around by Parkerly Copse.” “Martin,” said Lady Chevenix to the groom, “do not leave your master for one moment. Do what you can.” “T will, my lady,” he replied, “but I misdoubt me it will end badly.” | With a heavy heart Lady Chevenix re-entered the house, and Felix went back to his writing. Violet retired to her own room, to while the time away with a book. The sunny hours of the beautiful day wore on; no cloud came over the smiling heavens; yet there was a faint wail » in the summer wind which to the weather-wise heralded a storm. The shadows lengthened, and Felix had not left the library; he had partaken of a biscuit and a glass of sherry there, as he was anxious to get his work done. He had completely finished by six o’clock, and on going in search of Sir Owen was told that he had not yet returned. Lady Chevenix was in her room. He would have been glad if he could have gone home then; he did not care to re: main for the long formal dinner and the long formal even: ing. Still he was unwilling to leave Lady Chevenix until her husband returned. The first bell rang, and he went to his room, Sir Owen, ) (Eo panicel exoKo) << (E(0) mn