The Widowed Bride — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

d- ORS hry hee, - é 4 yt, THE WIDOWED BRIDE. — 107 that she had her own way to make in the world. And now who could consistently blame her for her best to make it. Consequently when Captain Evelyn came in, followed by the rest of the group, the beautiful young eirl, gazelle-eyed and features like a Circassian damsel, who reclined so grace- fully upon the white silk sofa, with her book lying in her lap, struck upon his vision almost like some supernaturally lovely tableaux. “TI beg your pardon,” he said, receding somewhat awk- wardly, yet with the chivalrous respect he might have awarded to a royal princess, ‘‘I—I wasn’t aware my mother had a visitor.” | ‘Don’t tread so cruelly on my toes, you stupid Ernest,” said Lady Blanche, laughing merrily, ‘‘but let me come in, so that I can introduce you to my dear friend, Miss Percival. Rena, this is my brother, Captain Evelyn, and these are his friends, Mr. Alkenard and Lord Vere T’emple.” And Rena received them with as much grace and self- possession as if she had been in the habit of daily consorting with eldest sons of viscounts, officers in Her Majesty’s dra- goons and London barristers. Captain Evelyn, evidently struck with the beauty of his sister’s friend, sat down beside her and commenced an animated conversation at once, his face lighting up with a new expression totally different from the languor which had characterized his features up to that time. Lady Glenhampton noticed it all, even while she was talking with her customary vivacity to Mr. Alkenard, and she bit her scarlet lower lip. “I had no idea the little serpent was so dangerous,” said she to herself, ‘‘but I believe Ernest is too well seasoned with the atmosphere of London ball-rooms to allow himself to be drawn into a flirtation with a girl who is destined to be a governess. Let her amuse him while she is here—it cannot be for long.” ‘““Hrnest,”’ said the countess’ soft voice, during a momen- tary pause in the conversation, ‘‘I have promised you for to-morrow.” ‘“Who is to be the lessee, mother: 992 asked her son, with a slight elevation of his handsome black eyebrows. ‘‘Lady Barrington is to have a croquet party at The Oaks, and she counts on my young people to swell her number of ae mM: comicbooks.co