Gratia's Trials — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

106 GRATIA’S TRIALS, ‘“Wouldn’t you like the carriage to take you to your— friend’s house? I can wait your pleasure.” : ‘‘You need not inconvenience yourself,” said Gratia, com- posedly. ‘‘I will go in a hack, which I have already sent for.” } ‘‘In that case there is nothing more to be said,” retorted Miss Falconer; but there was a light in her eyes which, had Gratia taken the trouble to interpret the sign, might have bid- den her beware. ‘‘Good-morning.” : She courtesied low, and left the apartment, walking slowly until she had reached the end of the carpeted corridor. -Then she accelerated her speed, and hastened breathlessly into | her mother’s room, jerking the bell-rope as she did so. ‘¢Touisette !” she cried; ‘‘run and get me a cab—dquick ! Let it wait at the corner of the street!” Mrs. Falconer looked up in surprise as her daughter unbut- toned the jet knobs of her scarlet cashmere morning dress and began to change it for a plain black alpaca, which she had only the day before avowed her intention of giving to Louisette. ‘¢ Alberta,” she exclaimed, what is the matter? Where are you going?” ‘To follow my aunt—that is, to—to—wherever she goes— to make what discoveries I can, for Uncle Ralph’s future bene- fit, and my own edification.” And she related to her mother what she had seen and heard in Gratia’s room. | ‘It looks suspicious, to say the least of it, this sudden jour- ney, so soon after engagement, and following directly on Uncle Ralph’s absence,” she said ; ‘‘and I mean to be at the bottom _ of the mystery !” , ‘« Alberta, tell me what you suspect?” cried Mrs. Falconer.- ‘‘Mamma, I don’t know myself; another lover, perhaps; a husband, for aught I know. Where there is something to con- ceal, there is generally something to regret. I asked Gratia a question or. two about her goings and comings, and she as good comicbooks.com