Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. " To die for what we love! Oh, there is power In the true heart, and pride and joy for this; It is to live without the vanished light That strength is needed." From Constanza. |ady Mac-norman's picnic was a success. The day rose bright and beautiful?" as if it had been made to order," as Norah remarked. "What a bad temper Carrie is in to-day!" she said to Eily, just before they started. " If it does not improve, it strikes me very forcibly that Reggie Denham will find some one more attractive. Eily, do you think he cares anything for her?" " How can I tell?" responded her sister laconically, as she wove a pale blue ribbon amid her brown tresses. " You know more about it than I do." " Well, he did pay her a good deal of attention the other night when we were at the Priory, and I certainly never saw Carrie look so well. She was superb in those rubies she coaxed mamma to let her wear; they did suit her to perfection, and as Eric was not there, there was nothing to distract her thoughts, and she was honey itself to Eeggie, while he hovered over her all night like a big blonde butterfly. He really is so effeminate, I cannot think how a splendid creature like Carrie can spend her time on such a little, fair-haired, baby-faced boy; because you know if Carrie's temper were as perfect as her face and figure, she would be something out of the common, the sort of thing you read about, but don't often see." " There is no disputing the fact that Carrie isextremely handsome, and can be very fascinating when she pleases," commented Eily, thoughtfully surveying her own Madonna face in the glass before her. " But," shrugging her shoulders, " she does think such a heap about it, Eily?that is the truth. She knows she is good-looking, and instead of being s...