The Widowed Bride — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

[THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 137 ‘Its troublesome to get out, ’ she said, ‘‘in one’s train and all; but as I haven’t called, it mightn’ t seem sufficiently cordial to sit still in the carriage and send for her. If you'll just hold my train, Balfour, it won’t be a great deal of trou- ble es Rena Percival stood in the center of the large apartment, a beautiful vision of youth and loveliness and maiden bloom, the vail floating like a pearl-gemmed cloud over her shoul- ders, the emerald lights of her dress shining as it lay in rip- pled undulations along the floor, and her beautiful arms, neck, and shoulders, unadorned by a single jewel (ah, if Lady Blanche Arden had only had the foresight to leave her jewel-zase behind) looking as if they were molded in ala- baster. As she advanced with a smile to great them, Lady St. Burgoyne stopped short, as surprised and delighted as if she had met a lovely white angel, and Lord Balfour, albeit he had seen many fair women iu his day, felt a thrill of ad- miration quiver through his whole frame. Lady St. Burgoyne put up her eye-glass, and took a good look at the pretty apparition! “‘My dear,” said she, drawing Rena to her, and kissing her, ‘“‘how lovely you are—and how like your poor, dear father! But where is Edith? J mean your mamma—she always will be Edith to me, if she had twenty daughters as tall as you are!” ‘“The Countess of Glenhampton was called suddenly away to Brighton, before she had time to notify you,” answered Rena. . colori Ing as she spoke the words of unmistakable equivocation; *‘and——”’ “Oh, yes, it’s all right,” said Lady St. Burgoyne. ‘She knew you wouldn’t want to miss the drawing-room, and that I would take good care of you, my dear. This is my son, Lord Balfour, Edith—is it Edith?” she added, as Lord Balfour bowed before the radiant young creature. ‘““No,” Rena answered again, feeling the crimson burn in her cheeks, ‘it 1s Blanche.” ‘‘And a very pretty name it is, too,” said Lady Bt. Bur- goyne; ‘‘but I believe we have no time to lose—at least Balfour says so, although Balfour is always hurrying me. Our carriage is wide, and I think there’ll be plenty of room in it, as Edith is not here to go, and it will be more social to be all together!” For which suggestion Rena Percival thanked the kindly Gomicbooks.co