Weaker than a Woman — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 15 laughed Violet; “but what has brought you to the Limes | on this warm afternoon ?” “T have come to see you, Violet.” “T ought to be much obliged to you,” she replied; “ but the afternoon 1s a very busy time with me. I attend to all these flowers myself.’’ “T will help you with the flowers, and I hope that I shall be no obstacle to your pleasant thoughts, Violet,” he said. They walked together until they reached an opening in the lawn; there was a bank gay with wild flowers, a hedge full of wild roses, and hawthorns crowned it. Felix took the basket from her hand and placed her on the bank. “T have come to talk to you, Violet,” he said. ‘“* You must forget your flowers for a few minutes and listen to me. Such a day as this, Violet, was made fora love-story. I have an idea that everything in nature is interested in mine.” “Your ideas are not of the ordinary kind,” she remarked. ‘No, they are not, Town. S§till they please me, Violet. I have a sweet fancy. Shakespeare says all sweet fancies come to lovers.” “But we are not lovers, Felix,” she said, gravely. ‘Then I hope we soon shall be. Ihave a fancy, Violet, that every bird singing in the trees knows why I am here, that the flowers and the sunshine know it.” “Then,” observed Violet, “they are wiser than I.” No, not wiser or sweeter or brighter than you; but it was an idle, pretty fancy, Violet. As I walked under the zreat shady trees every leaf seemed to stir—as I passed, the roses in the hedges nodded ; they said, ‘The sun shines and the earth is fair; now is the time for youth and love.’ ” Violet looked up at him with a resigned little sigh. ‘Not being either a bird or a flower, | am not in their confidence, Felix; and perhaps when you have finished with them you will tell me what you have to say.’’ “JT will tell you now. I have such good news, Violet. Mrs. Hardman, one of my father’s clients, has left him six ‘ thousand pounds. ’’ Violet’s violet eyes opened wide in wonder. “Six thousand pounds! That isa great deal of money, is it not, Felix ?” “Yes, a very great deal. You know my father has an excellent business, but he did certainly want a little more money. This legacy has made him happier than I can tell you.”’ | comicbooks (E(o)