Gratia's Trials — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS, . 115 ‘Tam sure I do not know,” said Alberta, evincing great in- terest. | ‘‘You never could guess,” said Mrs. Kempfield, emphasizing her words with energetic twists at the handkerchief. “TT dare say I couldn't,” sighed Alberta, ‘‘This is such a wicked world !” | ‘‘It is, indeed,” cried Mrs. Kempfield, ‘‘ What would you say, maam, if I told you she was a ¢hief/ Stole money, actually, from a very worthy man, a peddler, who chanced to be a guest in our house. ‘Twenty dollars!” | ‘I should not be at all surprised,” said Alberta, secretly exultant. ‘*A mischief-maker—a bold, disobedient, idle, lazy—but here comes her father,” said Mrs. Kempfield, suddenly checked in a list of adjectives which threatened to be as long as the moral law. -. £“Ira |” The rasping venom of her voice was changed to honeyed sweetness, as her husband came heavily into the room. He stopped and looked at her. ‘* Here’s a lady called to make some inquiries about your daughter Gratia,” said his wife.” Not even the softening crucible of affliction through which this man was passing could blunt the sharp edge of his sullen malice against the daughter who had borne such sure although silent evidence against his household rule. ‘‘She’s no daughter of mine,” he said, almost savagely. ‘«She has gone her own way, and I'll neither make nor mar in the business. I don’t want to be uncivil to the lady, but it is a subject I'd rather not talk about.” ‘Vou see,” said Mrs. Kempfield, nodding her head, as her husband disappeared through the opposite door, ‘‘ even her own father has nothing to say for her. He can't bear evidence in her favor, so he is wisely silent,” ‘‘Well,” said Alberta Falconer, rising, ‘‘l am exceedingly obliged, Mrs, Kempfield, for your frankness and courtesy.” Gomicbooks (E(@) m