The Widowed Bride — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

denial quite correctly.” THE WIDOWED BRIDE, 173 at once. Perhaps it was because she had still some linger- ing doubts concerning Rena Percival’s fascinations, and the manner in which they might be employed. ‘She will never dare to flirt with my daughter’s betrothed husband,” she thought. But she did not know how essentially different her daugh- ter’s friend had grown to be of late, or her hate might have softened into pity, bitter and unrelenting as it was. Lady Blanche was sitting with her mother in the little pink-and-gold reception room where Lady Glenhampton wrote her letters, kept her dainty workstand, and occasion- ally painted a little in water colors, so that her children had called it ‘“‘mamma’s work-room” when they were little. It was the first opportunity Blanche had found to be alone with her mother since the momentous event of the morning. At such a time as this it was natural enough that mother and daughter should have much to say to each other, and Blanche had scarcely begun the details of her happy confi- dences when a footman appeared in the open doorway. ‘Mr. Poynings’ compliments, my lady, and would be obliged to you if you would see him for a few moments.”’ ‘Not now, mamma,” said Blanche, coaxingly. ‘I haven’t fairly seen you all day, and | must have you now for a little while. Mr. Poynings can wait!” ‘‘As if it were likely that I should spare you just now, child,” said Lady Glenhampton, letting her hand fall caress- ingly upon her daughter’s hair. ‘Tell Mr. Poynings,” she added, speaking to the servant, ‘‘that it is not convenient for me to see him at present; some other time will do.” The man departed, and Blanche nestled up to her mother’s side once more in undisturbed security. But it seemed scarcely an instant since the servant’s departure when the sound of advancing footsteps broke in upon the thread of the young girl’s innocent talk, and Mr. Poynings himself entered. Lady Glenhampton rose in stately surprise. ‘IT thought I had given orders to be denied to visitors!” she said, with a ring of hauteur in her tone. ‘‘Harper!’ for the footman’s troubled face appeared in the rear of this . , é< @ e = Sb by persistent guest, ‘‘did you understand what I said to you: ‘‘Pray do not blame the man,” said Mr. Poynings, with elaborate politeness. ‘‘He gave your ladyship’s message of — - GCOomIicbooks.co