Weaker than a Woman — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

249 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. “You are very restless, Violet,” said Mrs. Haye. “Why is it, my dear ?” “I want to hear some news of my Lilford friends ; none of them come near me. How is Eve Lester, mamma? Has she a fiance yet? Is there any rumor of her marriage ?” “No. People say that she has refused some good offers —no one knows why,” said Mrs. Haye. “And—and Felix Lonsdale, mamma. Is he going to marry ?” Kor a moment Mrs. Haye looked keenly at her daughter, and then she answered, carelessly : ‘“T hear nothing of him. Ido not think he will ever find time to marry; he has too much business.” “Does he—let me think—what is the Lilford phrase? Does he ‘pay his addresses’ to anybody ?” She waited restlessly for the answer. “No,” replied Mrs. Haye, ‘“T have not heard that he does ; in fact, he has no time.” She looked again at her daughter, but Violet's face was turned to the window. Later on Mrs. Haye began talking to her of the brilliant second marriages she had heard of—marriages of fair young widows who had been left with large fortunes—how they had made most brilliant matches, married lords and dukes, filled grand positions, and made famous names. She did not say that there was a moral to be drawn from all this, but she left it for her daughter to think over. So time passed, and at last Lady Chevenix wrote to im- plore Marian Hethcote to return to her, if only for a few days—for she was longing for a change. But, when Marian came, it was found that she had permission to remain six months, if Lady Chevenix desired it. Miss Hethcote deplored the sudden and untimely death of the master of Garswood, but there could be no doubt her second visit was more pleasant than her first. Lady Cheve- nix was cheered by the presence of her young guest; it was novel to hear the sound of a laugh 1n the gloomy Hall. Marian said to her one day: “ Dear Lady Chevenix, do you know what, if I were in your place, I should do?” “I cannot guess,” she replied. “I should leave Garswood for a few months or longer. This house is haunted, I am sure, for you.” “That is just it,” she acknowledged ; “it is haunted. If I go into the library I see my husband there. I fancy I hear his voice in the corridors. ‘There is not a room in the house GComicbooks.co