Gratia's Trials — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

99 ) GRATIA’S TRIALS. ‘« By Jove, Gratia !” he cried, admiringly surveying her, ‘‘you ought always to wear white and pink; you look exactly like an apple-blossom. Don’t try to rush by me,” intercepting her with an outstretched hand. ‘‘I mean to take you into dinner, just for the fun of making all the other fellows envious. Come, mother. Bertie, come.’ But the door was bolted, and Mrs. Falconei’s sharp voice called out : | *‘ We are not ready yet.” ‘Then I shall go in with Gratia, and you can come in at your leisure,” observed the dutiful son. And away he went, drawing Gratia’s reluctant arm through his own. Mrs. Falconer embraced the first opportunity to remonstrate with her son. ‘* Robert,” said she, ‘‘you must be a little more circum- spect.” | | ‘‘Much obliged to you, mother,” said the young man, in- differently. ‘‘ But why, may I make bold to ask ?” ‘‘People are beginning to make remarks about you and - Gratia.”’ ‘“Who ?” asked Robert, languidly. ‘* Everybody !” was the evasive answer. ‘‘ Everybody gives me credit, then, for remarkably good taste,” said Mr. Falconer, complacently stroking his light mus- tache. ‘‘She is the prettiest girl at the Branch.” ‘Robert, you are not serious 2?” ‘‘ Never was more so in my life.” . ‘‘But she has not a penny besides what Hugo sees fit to allow her; and it is imperatively necessary, as you yourself ow” ‘That I should marry rich, My dear mother, do you take me for an absolute fool? Can't a fellow admire a pretty girl without marrying her ?” Mrs, Falconer was somewhat relieved at this view of the ‘4 comicbooks.co