The Widowed Bride — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 179 & does he mean? Why do you look so frightened. Shall I call Vere?” Lady Glenhampton mutely shook her head. Mr. Poyn- ings laughed. _ ‘I would advise you to be very careful how you summon a council of friends, Lady Blanche,” he said, superciliously. ‘Family affairs are best kept quiet—eh, my Lady Glen- hampton?” . ‘“‘Leave me, if you please, sir,” she said, summoning some remnart of her former dignity. ‘‘I cannot endure any longer conversation to-night.” He hesitated, but apparently judged it better to concede a little. ‘Shall I wait on your ladyship to-morrow?” he asked, ob- sequiously. | “Yes.” She paused so long before she spoke the monosyllable that he had his lips open to speak again. “At what hour?” “I don’t know, I don’t care; only leave me,” she answered, in a sort of helpless despair. ‘Shall we say five o’clock?” he persisted. “Yes,” He doubted even then whether she understood the mean- ing of his question, but there was something in her manner that warned him not to press matters too far, and with a low bow to Lady Blanche, and. a few words of adieu to the countess, who did not seem to hear him, he departed. Blanche went up to her mother the moment the spell of his odious presence was withdrawn and put her arms lovingly about her. : | ‘‘Mamma, what does it all mean?” she asked. ‘‘What makes him speak to you so impertinently? Why don’t you have him turned out of the house?” Lady Glenhampton tried to smile. ‘It is only his presuming way, my love,” she said. ‘*‘Do not let us talk any more about it just now. I suppose something must be done to check it, but—but there is time enough. What was it you were going to ask me?” ‘Tl brought you a letter, mamma—the postman sent a special messenger with it just now; he says it was somehow overlooked in the mails, and must have been detained over a week on the way. He hopes it isn’t of much importance, Eomicbooks co