Penny Dreadfuls, 1890 · page 90 of 297
Weaker than a Woman — page 90: what you’re looking at
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oe te ae ae ON aE ee ERE SS ee a fe a a ee be Pe aw Wee eee oe es ae ae ae ee XP: iat \ Sees he Sa, St Si! -_t ae Ses ts, Se ie eed yt ow SE Oa TR ga SPY ee gad TM ia tig Ns ‘ + Ae ye “gg? = wv . =" i €? & cd Mg — > Test es ae” ek . # Nye : ie at ” ? dod a bs re (aaA™ ot 4 < ye, 7X Ps & — < Z 2 é > 2 ry Cha se Pa , te > i tE > i+ ie A Oe ' MB) ~ ve > ia: ’ v Pl ey Ee fe ~ . ys F —" ; (Pa X, cm’ 3 : . ~ a —_ _ WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 81 ie do; from early dawn men had been at work in the park, — Ber Sir Owen came down stairs radiant. “Who will say one word against English weather after — “this ?”? he cried; then, when he saw Violet, he bowed low to her. “The queen of the fete,” he whispered, and she blushed as she heard him. The post-bag cameé as they sat at breakfast, and there was a note for her; she saw that it was from Felix, and put it aside until she should be alone. Looking up sud- denly she saw Sir Owen watching her intently, and again a _ hot flush burned her face. He did not leave her—every- thing was referred to her; her wishes, her tastes were con- tinually consulted. “My dear Lavinia,” said Lady Rolfe, with upraised hands, “it is something incredible—he treats her just as though she were mistress of this house. It is quite enough to turn any girl’s brain.” Though he spent his whole time crit her, Sir Owen did not forget her parents. Francis Haye declared that he was “in clover ;” his wife had never been so happy; they were waited upon and attended to before every one else—they had every luxury, every attention. The guests arrived early. Everything was a success, but the crowning satisfaction of all was that the weather was so fine. Violet found time to read her lover’s note; it said how disappointed he was that he could not come to Gars- wood, but to attend the fete even for one hour was an im- possibility for him. His father had had a very serious re- lapse, and he could not leave the office. She was sorry; yet she could not understand how it was she experienced a certain feeling of relief—her present triumph was so great, and she enjoyed it so thoroughly. It must all have ended when Felix came. It was likea play now; she was play- ing the part of mistress of a magnificent mansion—of queen of that brilliant fete. She must have given up this role if Felix had come. She must have spent the time with him. “T shall never in my life have such a triumph again,” — she said to herself—‘never again. I may as well enjoy this while it lasts.” | She looked superbly beautiful in the dress that had been sent to her for the fete; and, as she walked through the grounds with Sir Owen by her side, she was the observed of all observers. She felt her triumph keenly—it was no small one—yet she had an uneasy sensation, too, that it was, after all, a false position. She was the promised wife- Gomicbooks.com