Gratia's Trials — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

174 GRATIA’S TRIALS. me and Polly waiting upon you—‘ brain fever’ the doctor says— and it’s a downright blessing you’ve got your poor, wandering wits back again. Here comes Sarah Ann with a bowl of chicken broth, piping hot, you’re to swallow.” ‘‘ Where is Mrs. Pennilon ?” the young girl asked, faintly. ‘« My dear, she’s gone,” said the good woman; ‘‘and what I said then I say now—good riddance to bad rubbage. Gone back to her native country, I hope, with all them plaguey young uns, and airs, and graces, and pickin’ the bill to pieces, as if Powell and me had set out to cheat ’em from the very beginning. Not but what I’d ha’ forgiv’ her all the rest if she hadn't left you behind just like a sick poll-parrot. ‘If she dies, landlord,’ says she, ‘she’s got money enough in her purse to bury her decent; if not, she'll take care of herself; it's no business of ours.’ Now take this broth, and go right to sleep ; that’s my pretty dearie !” And while Gratia was trying to tell the good woman how impossible it was for her to slumber again, she drifted peace- fully off to sleep. It was the middle of June before Gratia Kempfield was quite restored to health and strength once again. Mrs. Pennilon, she discovered, on examining her simple effects, had left a quarters wages behind, in addition to a trifling sum which Gratia possessed, so that she had something wherewith to recom- pense her good host and hostesses in some degree at least. Five pounds was all that Mrs. Powell could be persuaded to take. As Gratia had now nearly recovered her health, she felt the necessity of looking for employment again, and she bade her kind friends adieu, starting out with all her belongings in a small satchel. Her purse was very low, and her thoughts in- voluntarily turned to Colonel Falconer. ‘‘He was kind to me once, when I needed it less than I do - now,” she thought, ‘‘and why should I shrink from appealing to him this time? It will be only a loan that I will ask. I will: work my fingers to the bone to pay it back again.” Eomichbooks: co im