Gratia's Trials — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

100 @RATIA’S TRIALS. 3? ““T am not easily astonished, sir,” said Gratia, smiling faintly ; ‘‘and I believe I can anticipate what you are going to say to me.” ‘Ah? ‘‘T have heard one or two things spoken by Mrs. and Miss Falconer ; and Ida has told me others, which lead me to expect a dismissal from this house,” said Gratia, speaking firmly and quickly, although in a low voice. . ‘And what should you think of such a proceeding on my part?” asked Mr. Miller, with an odd sort of smile hovering about his lips. ‘‘T should accept it, sir, without remonstrance, dearly as I love Ida and happy as I have been in the position of Colonel Falconer’s adopted daughter. You have been kind to me be- yond all I had any right to expect—you have extended to mea home when I was almost homeless—and I shall always be deeply grateful to you for those things, whatever course you may think proper to adopt for the future.” ‘‘Well said, my dear,” said Uncle Ralph, ‘‘and I admire your spirit and temper. But, Gratia, you have misinterpreted my motive in sending for you to-night.” | She looked up, her soft eyes filled with questioning surprise. Uncle Ralph went on: ‘‘T am not going to turn you out of doors, my little Gratia,” he said, taking her white, warm hand in his; ‘‘Il am going to ask you to become my wife !” “n ~ CHAPTER XIX. ee: THE DAWN OF FORTUNE. For an instant Gratia stood pale and trembling, scarcely able to comprehend the full import of the words that had been spoken to her; the next minute the rich, rosy blood flew _» Eomichbooks:¢co