Gratia's Trials — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

166 GRATIA'’S TRIALS. ‘©Can I see Mrs. Pennilon?” he asked. That is the name, | is it not, of the lady with whom Miss Kempfield is traveling ?” ‘Ves sir, that is the name,” said Mrs. Powell, and again she trudged up stairs. - Mrs. Pennilon, although she was righteously indignant at the idea of her governess having ‘‘ followers,” was not a little _ pleased at the intelligence that the gentleman from the Hall wished to see her. ‘‘T hope I have not inconvenienced you, madam,” said Colonel Falconer, courteously, as Mrs. Pennilon rustled into the room. ‘‘I only wished to make some inquiries of you about your governess, Miss Kempfield.” Mrs. Pennilon’s face flushed redder than before. ‘‘ Has she been complaining of her situation ?” she demanded, angrily. -**Not in the least, madam,” said Colonel Falconer, looking somewhat surprised. ‘‘ But I chanced to see her at Melworth Hall this morning, and made an appointment to call this after- noon at five. Do you know which way she has gone ?” ‘No, I don't,” said Mrs. Pennilon, primly drawing herself up; ‘‘and if I did I should not think it my duty to tell you.” Colonel Falconer’s face was more and more perplexed in its expression. Soy ‘‘Perhaps you are unaware, Mrs. Pennilon,” he said, ‘‘ that Iam a very old friend of your children’s instructress—that I ‘stand almost in the relationship of a father to her ?” ‘‘ In-deed |” said Mrs. Pennilon, with a toss of her head. -**Can you tell me how soon she will return ?” ‘*No, I can’t.” . Colonel Falconer stood in silence for a moment; then he hurriedly penciled a few words upon a card. ‘Will you oblige me by giving her this, madam ?” he asked ; ‘fand I will no longer intrude upon your valuable time. Mrs, Pennilon took the card as if it were full-freighted with small-pox, typhoid fever, or some other virulent disease, and Eomicbooks:co