The Wife and Woman's Reward [By C.E.S. Norton]

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1835 edition. Excerpt: ... She walked to the bell, rang it, asked the servant whether Mr. Dupre was returned to dinner; received for answer that Mr. Dupre had just gone out, without saying when he should return; and was again left alone. This, this was worse than all! The cold, the cruel neglect, the utter forgetfulness of the suffering being he had left! Clarice unpinned the lace tippet which covered her neck, and glanced at her pained and aching shoulder; the purple mark of the blow was there, which Lionel's violence had inflicted; and her heart, which had been so ready to forgive, closed against the man who could so offend, and yet not think it worth while to speak a kind word afterwards! It was at this moment that a pencilled note was brought from Altamont Percy--it was hardly legible, and merely announced his unexpected return from Brighton, his finding her undated letter, and being then within a few doors in a travelling carriage, ready to convey her where she would; to India, if such was her determination. Clarice stole up stairs; -- the nurse slept heavily, and she looked once more on her slumbering babe.--"He will not love you, my boy: he loves nothing on this earth but himself;" murmured she bitterly. She turned to go--lingered pausingly at the door--looked with eyes, dimmed by tears, towards the white curtains of the little cot--returned--lifted him softly in her arms--wrapped him in a fur mantle--and, unattended and unprepared, walked down stairs. The drowsy porter opened his eyes, started, and rose: --" Where is John?" said his lady; "T want to send him a message." The porter left the hall to call his fellow servant, and Clarice opened the door herself. The heavy re-echoing sound it gave in closing, smote on her heart; she paused, faint with fear, and...