Gratia's Trials — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA'S TRIALS. 155 ‘‘Mrs. Osard wishes to see you in the parlor, Miss Kemp- field,”’ she said. Gratia obeyed the summons, nor was. she surprised to see Rosa follow her into the room and take up her position, with a sort of ostentatious guardianship, back of her mistress’ chair, Mrs. Osard herself looked nervous and frightened. ‘‘Miss Kempfield,” she began, ‘‘I have just heard news that deeply shocks and surprises me.” Gratia bowed in silence. ‘You never told me,” pursued Mrs, Osard, ‘‘ that you had lived at Mrs. Falconer’s.” » ‘*No, madam.” | ‘Nor that—that—. But,” said the o!d lady, suddenly jerk- ing herself up, as it were, ‘‘I do not see any use in prolonging this interview, which must be quite as painful to you as to my- self I merely wish to tell you that you are from this moment dismissed my service.” ‘Mrs. Osard!” burst forth Gratia, forgetting all her wise resolutions, ‘‘I am as innocent as yourself. I never harmed a hair of his head ; pray, pray, believe me.” Mrs. Osard looked more frightened than ever. ‘‘Rosa,” she said, in a hurried whisper, ‘‘ ycu had better ring for the coachman ; it is well to be provided for any emergency. Pray, Miss Kempfield, spare me this unnecessary agitation ; it will be of no avail. Here are your wages for a month in ad- vance ; I believe I owe you this much, in consideration of the sudden dismissal. Gratia silently accepted the money which the good old lady pressed upon her, and, with a murmured word of adieu, left Mrs. Osard’s presence. ‘I declare,” cried the old lady, when the door was closed, ‘*T feel sorry for her, for all it’s such an awful story. Her face is so sweet and girlish. | But then faces are deceitful.” | Eomichbooks:. co