Love's Conflict Volume 2 - Softcover

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. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. THE ABREST. George Teeherne, skirting the park, on his way homewards, in order to visit a pheasant preserve, that lay between the gamekeeper's lodge, and the house, little dreamt of the dreadful tragedy, which had taken place within so short a distance from his footsteps. His immediate business over, his thoughts reverted to the last words he had had with his wife, and thence, to many words and scenes of similar import. Sad thoughts they must have been, for he had hardly known, when he made that resolution to try and win her affections, what a hard thing it is, to live in close and daily contact, with the undisciplined temper of one, who is nearly connected with you. And yet he made excuses for her, to himself, as he strolled homewards that bright June morning, on the score of her parentage, her bringing up, and his own want of love towards her. He would try again, perhaps there had been something defective in his manner of treating her ill-humour--it would be strange, if he could not manage, by hook or by crook, to bring a woman round to love him; and when she loved him, things would go smoother. As the idea flashed through his mind, a particle of the old conceit curled his lip, at the bare notion of his encountering difficulty in the subjugation of a feminine heart. Afterwards, how glad he was to be able to look back, and say truly, that on that morning, no thoughts of her, but kindly ones, had filled his own heart. On his arrival at the house, and first discovery that Helene was not there, no idea of alarm occurred either to him, or Mr. Treherne. She might very well have come in, and gone out again, without any one seeing her; it was still early--about twelve o'clock; she was probably in the garden, or grounds. But the...