Weaker than a Woman — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

70 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. there, fondly fancied that it was due to the fame of his effective preaching. Lady Rolfe suspected that the charm- ing Lavinia, had lured him there, but the vicar’s wife, shrewd Mrs. Hunter, sighed and smiled. “Itis the old, ~ old story,’ she said to herself; and then she reproached herself for the thought, and applied herself to the Psalms. — Felix did not think much about the matter. He was not ashamed to bow his handsome head, and join with all his heart in the beautiful words of the service; but when it was all over he hastened to meet Violet. She was standing with her mother, and, to his surprise, Sir Owen Chevenix was talking to them. He gave a careless nod to Felix, but. continued talking. “I beg that you will let me drive you home, Mrs, Haye,” he was saying. “To tell you the truth, I ordered my carriage on purpose—I did, indeed. It is a lovely morning, and if you will permit it, we will drive around by @ueen’s Ash.” He did not look at Violet as he spoke. He knew that whatever her mother did she must do. Felix had taken her hand. . He did not care if all the world heard what he had to say. “ You will not break through the old custom of walking — home with me, Violet, or rather of allowing me to walk — home with you?” | | She looked from one to the other with real distress in her face. Sur Owen did not even glance at her; he knew that his cause was safe in Mrs. Haye’s hands. “ Violet,” said Felix,“ you cannot hesitate,” and the girl — stood looking at him while her mother said: “Really I do not know what answer to give you, Sir ~ Owen. Ido not know what people will say.” “Why, what does that matter, Mrs. Haye ?” “ Well, you see, Sir Owen, Lilford is a small place, and ‘everybody’ knows ‘everything.’ ” *“ My dear lady, what can it matter if all the world knows of this? I shall be very proud of the honor, I assure you. Lady Rolfe would not require so much pressing.” The last words, vulgar as was'the spirit which dictated them, quite determined Mrs. Haye. Evidently, if she did not go with him, he would drive Lady Rolfe and her daughter. She simpered a little. | : “Since you are so kind, we will accept your offer,” she said. “It will certainly be very pleasant. I always tell Haye that the one thing I want to make me perfectly happy is a carriage. Now, Violet.” : Sane