The Widowed Bride — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

126 THE WIDOWED BRIDE. of dark green velvet, tripped away, her soft eyes sparkling beneath the shadow of the long black plume of her hat. But Lady Glenhampton had not judged 1t best to divulge to her daughter the secret anxiety which was corroding her heart, the fear lest Rena Percival’s brilliant beauty and. mar- velous grace shou!d wile away from unsuspecting Blanche the dearest treasure of her girl-heart, Lord Vere Temple’s allegiance. ‘For, after all,” thought the countess, restlessly biting ~ her under lip, “there ig no regular engagement between them as yet, and the truest heart that ever beat would be ~ inveigled by the witching ways of yonder little siren. . It is an infatuation, and nothing more, but it may embitter Blanche’s whole life, nevertheless. Oh, why—why will not fate let me be happy fora brief while, after all that I have endured.” Her head dropped on her hands, the lids fell heavily over her eyes, and something like a groan broke from her lips. It was but too evident that the majestic Countess of Glen- hampton, surrounded as: she was by wealth, luxury, and splendor, was not happy. But there was one consolation left to her. Ernest must join his regiment in October to proceed to town, and one, at least, of the two impending dangers would be averted. _ Lady Glenhampton resolved to endure the inevitable as patiently as possible, in view of its brief continuance. What, therefore, was her vexation and inward consternation when Ernest came gayly into the breakfast-room one morniug with an open letter in his hand. ‘“‘Congratulate me, mamma,” he said, with the uncon- cealed glee of a schoolboy. ‘‘Il’ve got another month’s leave of absence.” | “Upon my word that’s jolly!” cried Lord Vere. ‘You know I was saying only the other day that our little circle - here was too pleasant to lose even one element.” Lady Glenhampton smiled and tried to say something — pleasant and congratulatory, but the words died away on her lips, and Ernest read in the one single glance from Rena’s momentarily uplifted eyes that she was not. indif- ferent to his tidings. “Fate is pitted against me,” thought the countess, while Miss Clive, sitting motionless in her accustomed place, silently watched the tides of youth and hope, love and ex- Seemichoo — | =< eas ~ * “ = - id —_- ow = i tel a - Se .