Gratia's Trials — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

96 GRATIA’S TRIALS. ‘*Ah!” said the old gentleman, elevating his shaggy eye- brows. ‘‘Sit down, Julia. Now, what is itabout? Ida is no worse, I hope ?” | ‘<Tda is as well as usual,” said Mrs. Falconer, clearing her throat, and finding it difficult to begin. ‘‘But 1 wanted to speak to you about—about Gratia Kempfield.” ‘‘T thought Hugo had decided that for the future she was to be called Gratia Falconer?” said Mr. Miller, quietly. ‘‘ Hugo acted like a fool, as he always does when he allows himself to be carried away by his feelings,” said his mother, tartly. ‘‘I donot think the whole family should be incon- venienced and placed in a fale position by his caprice.” ‘Well ?” ‘© And I have concluded to appeal to your better sense and maturer consideration, Ralph,” smoothly went on Mrs. Falconer. ‘‘] am sure you must see at a glance how much wiser it would be to put the girl in her proper place. She is too independent and conceited for anything. Alberta and I have borne it as long as we possibly could—in fact, until for- bearance has ceased to be a virtue—and we are resolved to ask you to release us from the uncomfortable position we are now compelled to occupy.” ‘‘Hear! hear!” cried Uncle Ralph. ‘‘Upon my word, Julia, you would have made a capital public. speaker. ‘‘“Am I not. right?” said Mrs. Falconer, somewhat annoyed. ‘‘7 don't say you are not; goon.” ‘«T would not counsel you to turn her adrift on the world,” said Mrs. Falconer, with an air of mild toleration. ‘‘ That - would scarcely be right, though she has deserved even severer treatment than this.” ‘*} don’t think I quite understand what her crime has been,” interposed Mr. Miller. ‘‘We are not speaking of crimes,” said Mrs. Falconer, sharply. ‘‘I only say that a mistake has been made in lifting Gratia out of her proper position into one which is so much €omicbooks:com