The Widowed Bride — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

aay SRT ce fe EOMIECDOOKS THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 494 : AN work and no play makes J ack a dull boy. I’ve finished my work, and now for the pla She ar ranged her hair after the most becomingly uncon- ~ scious fashion, belted her white dress with a crimson silk cord, and went down into the library, whither, about an hour previously, she had heard footsteps languidly descend- ing. Lord Vere ‘l'emple, lounging in a leather covered arm- chair, over a folio volume of medieval engravings, started at. the sight of such an apparition of beauty and fresh- ness. | She hesitated an instant, with charming uncertainty; but Lord Vere rose at once. ‘Don't let me frighten you away, Miss Percival,” he said. “Tf you knew what stupid company I was for myself, you would begin by pitying me, and end by staying to bear me companionship.” xe came for a book,” said Rena; ‘‘I did not know you were here.” ‘That is not a very special compliment to me,” he said, his eyes fixed with ROME ICTY admiration on her beauti- ful face. “But I meant I was not aware you were well enough to come down.” _ My head is better, thanks, and solitude is my complaint just at present. Suppose you remain to act the part of — physician.” He drew forward a low, luxuriously cushioned chair as he he spoke, and Rena seated herself, as 1f the question really were not worth her while to debate any longer. “But you have not told me yet why you are not with the rest of the croquet players,” he said, as he resumed his arm- seat. Rena raised her soft, liquid eyes to his face with a glance half deprecation, half appeal. ‘Shall I tell you the real reason?” she asked. ‘Of course.’ ‘But I don’t know whether I ought to.” ‘‘T absolve you from all doubts at once. Let us have the ‘real reason.” ”’ ‘‘Lady Glenhampton did not ask me.’ ‘“Not ask you!” he echoed, in surprise. : EBLE, [ ought not to ) have expected it,” Rena nddad: Eo m