Gratia's Trials — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 133 who come and make inquiries in case of a sudden and mys- terious death, and decide what has been the cause of it,” ‘But how can “ey tell who killed Uncle Ralph ?” ‘‘I can't tell you, Ida; perhaps they cannot. But they will do their best to investigate the mystery.” ‘“Who do you suppose it was, Gratia ? Who could be cruel enough to hurt a good man like Uncle Ralph, and one that everybody loved ?” ‘‘There are more cruel people in the world, Ida, than you have any idea of,” said Gratia, sadly, as she sat on the lower stair of the upper flight, with Ida leaning against her. At that moment Mrs. Falconer swept by. ‘*Ida,”’ she said, ‘‘ what are you sitting here for? Goto your room, child, until all this tumult and confusion are over. As for you, Miss Kempfield, [ wonder that you have the audacity to show your face at all, after what has happened.” The tone, more than even the insulting words, stung Gratia keenly. She rose with burning cheeks and quivering lip. ‘Why should I not show my face? What do you mean, Mrs. Falconer ?” But Mrs. Falconer only answered by taking Ida’s hand and leading her away; and when Gratia would have gone down stairs to the little reception-room off the hall, she was inter- cepted by Scipio. ‘‘ Berry sorry, Miss. Gratia, but you can’t come down.” ‘‘ Why not, Scipio?” | ‘©No one is to go down till arter de inquest is ober. Berry sorry, but dem’s my orders. ” ‘*And I do not wish you to disobey them on my account,” said Gratia, quietly turning back again. And as she went up, she could hear Scipio speaking in a low voice to Marianne, who was dusting the paneled black walnut of the hall wainscoting. ‘Dar! I tole you she neber was the one todo it! ’Tain't natural she should,” (ele) (eo aniicel evexe) <S