Weaker than a Woman — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN, 71 “Violet will allow me to escort her, Mrs. Baye ” sug- gested Felix. “Oh, no,” replied Mrs. Haye, “ Violet must come with me. I cannot xo alone and leave Violet with you. Another — time, Felix, you shall be her escort. Sir Owen has been kind enough to order his carriage for us; it would be really impolite to refuse. We will say good-morning to you now.” And she watched him while he shook hands first with her and then with Violet. | His handsome young face had grown white even to the lips; but what could he do? He was agentleman; he could not make a “scene ;” he could not take the girl from her mother’s side against her will; he had no carriage with roan steeds, and coachman and footmen in livery. What could he do? Only one thing. If Violet was to go in the carriage he himself would put her into it. The baronet’s hand should not touch even his darling’s dregs. So he walked by her side down the avenue of limes, and they reached the high road where the carriage stood. There were many curious eyes watching them. Lady Rolfe | and the fair Lavinia looked on in angry indignation. “What does that girl mean by encouraging Sir Owen 2” said the mother. “Surely one lover ought to be enough for her. Felix Lonsdale must be blind.” “Perhaps he cannot help himself, mamma,” returned the philosophical daughter, and in that she was right. When Felix had helped Violet'into the carriage he bent over her to arrange her dress. “Darling, you would sooner have walked home with me, would you not?” “Yes, I would,” she replied, and after that the disap- - pointment was not quite so hard to bear. He had one gsatis- » J . of . : yA faction ; he turned away without a word or a bow to Sir Owen. “This is pleasant,” said Mrs. Haye, as the carriage rolled swiftly along the high-road. “Violet, of all the luxuries of life give me a carriage.” The luxury and grandeur were certainly very pleasant, while the novelty delighted Violet. Sir Owen did nothing to alarm her. He talked to Mrs. Haye, while he merely looked at Violet. He was wonder- fully solicitous that she should be comfortable, and there was but one drawback to Violet’s pleasure, the memory of the pain on her lover’s face. “How I wish Felix had a carriage ! !’ she said to herself. . * But that will never be.” (Elo) mn Comicbooks