The Widowed Bride — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 125 friend. © ‘Rena has no home to go to—no connections to receive her.” ‘Ts that any reason that she should makea home of Glen- hampton Castle:” asked the countess, coldly, ‘But, mamma, what has Rena done?” “Tt ig not what she has done, my daughter, so much as what she may do in the future.” “IT don’t understand you,” said innocent Blanche. Lady Glenhampton looked at the young, puzzled face almost pityingly. It seemed incredible that her daughter should be so ignorant of the ways of the world. ‘‘Blanche,” she said, ‘‘you don’t consider Ernest is begin- ning to admire Miss Percival very much, and ss ‘ ‘Oh, mamma!” breathlessly interru ‘ted Blanche, ‘do you really think so? ‘Then it was not all my own imagina- tion, as | feared. Would not it be nice to have Rena here always?” ‘‘Blanche! Blanche!’ ejaculated the countess, more sharply than she had ever before spoken to her petted child, ‘‘if you would stop to reflect for one instant, you would know how vitally necessary it is for your brother’ Ernest to marry a wife whose wealth and family will add new dignity to the honorable old name of velyn.” ‘But we are rich, mamma.’ ‘Yes, we are rich, but I know too well, from what your father has, at different times, let fall, that Ernest Evelyn will never reap any advantage from the golden possessions of the Glenhamptons.” ‘“‘Mamma, surely that would be unjust.” ‘Not as the world judges such things, my child. Ernest Evelyn is not Lord Glenhampton’s child, and your father has already been most generous toward him. You are the heiress of STRUTS Os my Blanche, and you only.” ‘Then I will divide it with him,” cried the young girl, passionately. “‘My darling, that would not be right, neither would the law allow any such undue generosity on your part. Ernest has his own future to carve out, and he can best accomplish it by a successful matrimonial alliance. Hush! there is Lord Vere calling to know if yon are ready for your ride! Don’t keep him waiting; the horses are at the door.” And Blanche, who had been standing in her riding-habit Eomicbooks Eo m