Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

A CHANGE OF RESIDENCE AND AN ADVENTURE. 27 Another shout more deafening than the preceding one rent the air at this sarcastic speech, and Gladys shrank back with a look of disgust on her young face. “Pretty little Miss Uppercrust,” the young rascal inso- lently resuined, encouraged by the applause around him, . “IT cuess it'll take more’n you and your fine feathers to squelch Nick Tower. See ’ere now, how d’ye like that?” wherewith he gave the poor boy a brutai punch in the ribs which elicited a shriek of agony from him. Giadys’ eyes blazed wrathfully. For a moment she gazed straight into the face of the impudent urchin, her beautiful lips quivering with contempt, while every eye was fixed upon her with wonder and curiosity. It was a new departure for a young and delicate girl to face them like that. It was their experience to have every one of the better class shrink from them in disgust, and get out of their way as soon as possible. Gladys saw that their attention was all concentrated . upon her, and that the boy, upon whom they had been venting their malice, was for the time unheeded. She saw, too, that he was stealithily edging his way to- ward the carriage, and a sudden bright thought flashed into her mind. She bent forward as if to speak again, and the interest deepened on those youthful faces beneath her. Quick as a flash she turned the handie of the carriage door, threw it open, and with a significant gesture, she - cried out, in clear, ringing tones: “Come here, boy, quick ! quick !” The lad needed no second bidding. With one bound he was outside the circle of his tor- mentors ; another brought him to the side of the carriage, and the next instant he had sprung within the vehicle, where he sank panting and trembling upon arug at the young lady’s feet. The door was immediately shut and fastened. Gladys’ face was glowing with triumph over the success of her ruse, while, atan authoritative chirrup from the coach- man, who, sooth to say, had keenly enjoyed the spirited and courageous attitude assumed by his young mistress in defense of the persecuted boy, the horses started on, leaving the group of gamins speechless and spell-bound with amazement at this unexpected master-stroke. It was only fora minute, however; the next rage, at having been outwitted by a girl, and that one of the hateg favorites of fortune, superseded their astonishment, ang . Gomicboo S ( 3