The Widowed Bride — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

174 THE WIDOWED BRIDE “Then to what may! attribute the unexpected,”—she hesituted the merest fraction of a second, and then went on u —‘‘pleasure of your society at this moment 2” ‘“‘My business with your ladyship is important,” said M r. Poynings, ‘‘and”—he glanced about imperceptibly in the direction of Lady Blanche Arden—‘‘and it is of a private nature.’ “It must be important, to warrant your coli del: Mr. Poynings!” said Lady Glenhampton, haughtily. — . Lady Blanche, to whom the family lawyer had bowed low, rose to withdraw. “I will come in again, mamma, when you are at leisure,” said she. ‘Good evening, Mr. Poynings!” As the soft rustling sound of her white dress died away in the corridors Lady Glenhampton rang the bell, “Lights,” she said, briefly, to Harper, who responded to the summons, and pr esently the room flashed with brilliance. Mr. Poynings had stood quite silent, leaning against the edge of the mantel the while. “And now,” said Lady Glenhampton, when they were once more left to themselves, ‘‘will you be good enough to inform me what the business can be which renders you so- indifferent to all etiquette or conventionality f°” Lady Glenhampton was herself irritated beyond her usual wont, or she could not have failed to observe that. there was something dangerous about the whole aspect and demeanor of the man who stood facing her. His face, never very full of color, was now almost of a gray pallor, and a smoldering light seemed to glow beneath his contracted brows, while the obliquity of vision which grew more noticeable under the influence of any strong emotion, was unusually promi- nent at this moment. ‘‘T have heard news, Lady Glenhampton,” he said, speak- ing smoothly. ‘‘I suppose we have all heard it, however true or false it may prove to be.- It is a penalty paid inva- riably by the great—that they should have their affairs mer- cilessly discussed by those who stand in a less exalted posi- — tion.” Something in his tone of voice made the countess look suddenly up and glance at him with more intentness than she had hitherto thought it worth while to employ. He was faultlessly dressed, and he looked very composed and gentlemanly, standing there in an attitude that was appar- Comicbooks (E (0)