Gratia's Trials — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

114 GRATIA’S TRIALS. CHAPTER XXI. MRS. KEMPFIELD BEARS TESTIMONY. ‘* To—be—sure/” ejaculated Mrs. Kempfield. — She was coarser, and plumper, and more silky-voiced, if that were possible, than ever, as she sat there opposite Miss Fal- coner, with a pocket-handkerchief in her lap, which she kept out as a sort of tribute to the trouble which had overshadowed _ their roof that day. ‘So I supposed that of course you were the proper persons to apply to,” said Miss Falconer, smoothly, by way of sequel to her previous conversation. ‘‘Dear me!” said Mrs. Kempfield, breathlessly. ‘‘ What sort - of a situation was it, now—governess or companion ?” ‘“A sort of general charge of a gentleman's family,” answered Alberta, without the slightest hesitation. ‘¢ Well, now, I am astonished she should have the insolence to refer to me,” ejaculated Mrs. Kempfield, grasping at the handkerchief as viciously as if it were Gratia’s throat, ‘‘ when she must have been aware that I knew her from A to Z!” Miss Falconer inclined her head with a flattering deference of manner. ‘‘T assure you, madam,” she said, ‘‘I am already convinced that you are an excellent judge of character. I shall rest quite satisfied with your verdict, whatever it may be. Of course I had my own doubts about the young woman a “And well you might have had!” said Mrs. Kempfield, im- pressively. ‘‘Herown /a¢her, ma’am, has discarded her.” ‘“ Indeed !” ‘* Discarded her !” repeated the step-mother, with a sort of malicious delight in defaming the character of the absent girl, ‘and for what, do you suppose ?” ™ Eomichooks:¢o m