Weaker than a Woman — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

e > a i : ‘ > = — >" ~~ Ye /~ ——-. i 2.65 oO a he” ab | > ae, =” Se : @ as . oe - — = »? 7 awte i> Peek £ 7 - Seu - » ~—_-* * a 4 - 68 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. - to provide it. There were camellias, red and white, garde- nias, stephanotis, white heath, heliotrope, lemon-scented verbena—the rarest and loveliest flowers that grew. A lit- — tle white card was at the side of it—a card which bore the hackneyed quotation, “‘Sweets to the sweet.’ For Miss Haye, with Sir Owen Chevenix’s compliments.” : Violet gave a little cry of delight when she saw it. Mrs. Haye took it up in her hands, and, turning it round, said, in a most impressive voice: “This is worth five guineas, at least.” Then they uncovered several bunches of superb grapes, some fine peaches and apricots—delicacies such as pre- . viously Violet had only heard mentioned—also a dozen bottles of choice Madeira for Mr. Haye. “It is very kind of him,” said Francis Haye—“ wonder- fully kind. I have never met with any one so generous.” And Felix, who was far above all ignoble jealousy, joined in praise of the baronet. But when Violet stood at the garden gate alone with him he said, half sadly: “What does it all mean, Violet? I cannot understand it.” For to his mind—so brave, so noble, so incapable of meanness or wrong—it had not yet occurred that any man could deliberately try to take his betrothed wife from him. He would have scorned the notion—he never even ~ suspected it, until it was too late. But, as- he stood there—and it was only natural—there came to him fora moment a passionate longing for wealth. If he could only make such presents as those he had just helped to unpack ! “Violet,” he said, half sadly, “I am afraid my roses seem very poor and trifling by the side of all Sir Owen’s magnificence. My darling, if I could coin my heart’s blood into gold, and lavish it upon you, I would do so. My poor roses !” She laughed a low, rippling laugh, that sounded very sweetly to him. | “Those beautiful flowers will stand in mamma’s favorite old china bowl,” she said. ‘“ Look where one of your roses is,’ pointing to the bodice of her dress; “they shall change places if you like.” A passionate embrace was Felix Lonsdale’s only re- sponse, and as he walked home that night he felt that he was the happiest man in the world.