Weaker than a Woman — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

—_—_—- a ae z WEAKER THAN A WOMAN, ~~ ©" 951 eeu Re ‘, “T shall prefer sitting up at night,” said Felix. “I can always work better when there is perfect silence. A few hours’ extra work each night, and we shall soon have finished.” He little dreamed to what that sitting up would lead. They went on the Monday evening—a beautiful autumn evening, when the sunbeams fell on the gray walls and lighted up the picturesque mass of buildings. Several visitors were at the Hall. Captain Bell, Mrs. Haye, Miss Hethcote—who seemed as though she would never leave Lady Chevenix again—Lady Browning, and Miss Fern—all guests whom Lady Chevenix had invited. Father and son were taken at once to her boudoir, where she sat alone, and never in her whole life had Violet looked so charming. The year of quietness and repose in the cli- mate of Normandy had been marvelously beneficial to her. While there she had not a shadow of care; she had studied nothing except to forget the past, to realize her good for- tune, and to recruit her health. The consequence was that she returned with a lovely and dainty bloom. There was no longer the faintest shadow on her face; it was full of radiant, laughing light; the violet eyes were clear and bright as stars, the scarlet lips untroubled. Felix looked at her as she stood in the light of the setting sun, and his eyes were dazzled by her beauty and loveli- | ness. She wore a dress of rich black velvet cut square, so as to show the white neck, on which a diamond cross gleamed like fire. She wore diamond bracelets on her arms; diamond stars shone in the coils of golden hair. In kindliest greeting she held out her white jeweled hands to Mr. Lonsdale and his son, but her marvelous beauty had for a few minutes stricken them dumb. “I am so delighted,” she said, and truth shone in her beautiful eyes. “I thought I would see you here first, away from the other guests, because I wanted to talk to you. Mr. Lonsdale, take this easy-chair. Felix”’—she had quite fallen into the old fashion of calling him Felix— “sit here. I did not see you”—to Felix—" to bid you good- by; but I am pleased to see you on my return. There is no place like home, after all, is there? Normandy was very beautiful, but Garswood is home. Now tell me all that has been done in Lilford since I left. You were at Lady Maude’s wedding—tell me about it, Felix. Iam so glad she married her hero after all.” They spent one of the pleasantest hours that could be imagined, The same idea struck both father and son, Eomicbooks co mn