Gratia's Trials — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

140 _ @RATIA’S TRIALS. Ida, crying bitterly, was persuaded by the coroner, and com- manded by her grandmother, to repeat the conversation that had transpired over the anatomical plates. ‘But I’know Gratia never did it,” sobbed the child. ‘‘I know it |” ‘‘Your room is near that of Miss Kempfield ?” the coroner asked, kindly. ‘Tt is the next room.” ‘Did you hear her come up stairs last night ?” eS. ‘*Did you speak to her?” ‘“<T called ‘Gratia’ as she passed my door, and begged her to come in, as she often did at night when I couldn't get to sleep.” ‘‘And what answer did she make ?” ‘She said, ‘Not to-night, Ida.’” ‘‘Did her voice sound as if she were under the power of any strong emotion ?” ‘Tt sounded as if she had been crying.” ‘‘Was she in the habit of being easily moved to tears ?” ‘JT shall not answer you any more!” flashed outIda. ‘‘You want me to say something against Gratia—and I won't, for she’s the sweetest, best, dearest pi | And here Ida ran up to her grandmother and buried her sob- bing face on the lady’s shoulder. Even Mrs, Falconer looked appealingly at the coroner. He nodded, and she rang the bell for Joanna to take her young lady away. And the first intimation that Gratia Kempfield had of the fearful suspicions which were every instant forming themselves into a darker cloud of testimony against her, was the passionate exclamation of the little girl as she limped into the room, her curls hanging disheveled about her face, and her cheeks aflame. ‘‘They tried to make me say something against you, Gratia, but I wouldn’t! I wouldn’t! I wouldn’t !” ‘‘ Against me, Ida?” Gomicbooks:com