Gratia's Trials — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. | 139 cal prints which had been sent to my uncle, and Gratia asked where was the location of the heart. They found it, and after Studying it intently Gratia said, in a strange, sudden way which attracted .my attention, something about ‘how slight a thrust could put an end to all the world’s troubles.” I am not posi- tively certain as to the words, but that was their import.” ‘«When was that ?” ‘*'The afternoon before my uncle’s return from Boston.” «¢ Well ?” ‘And I have frequently heard her assert that she would do anything for the sake of money. It has always seemed to me ’ that she was of a remarkably mercenary temperament for one so young.” Mrs. Falconer, Robert, and Ida were all three next examined, each in due succession. Mrs, Falconer’s words confirmed those of her daughter. She had always disliked and distrusted Gra- tia Kempfield, who had become a member of their family en- tirely through a whim of her elder son, now absent in Belgium, and of whose antecedents or family history they had known ab- solutely nothing. Mr. Miller, they had known, with regret, to have fallen under the spell of the girl's extreme youth and great beauty, in a mood that amounted to actual infatuation, but they had trusted to the very last that he would find her out. The disenchantment, however, had seemingly come too late, Robert was more non-committal. Had always liked and ad- mired Gratia‘Kempfield; saw no objection to his uncle’s mar- rying when he liked, although he should, of course, have pre- ferred for an aunt-in-law some one whose social standing was a little more refined. Never had seen anything about Gratia which induced him to believe that she was of a passionate or revengeful disposition. Could not say what she might or might not have done under the influence of extreme temptation, Knew there was some row in the library the night before, as he passed the half-open door, from the sound of voices, but asked no questions, supposing matters would right themselves, GEomicbooks (Ele)