Gratia's Trials — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

ie GRATIA’S TRIALS. Cenci, they call it. Poor, pretty dear !—now I wonder what - 1? she could have wanted to see Colonel Falconer for!” _ And when Gratia’s scattered senses came back to her, she found her head pillowed on a kindly arm, and a gentle hand bathing her forehead and temples with the sweet-smelling vinegar. ‘You are very kind,” she said, in a low, tremulous voice. ‘(T_T fear I have been faint. But—did I understand you to say that Colonel Falconer had left the Hall?” ‘‘That was what I was telling you just as you swooned away,” said Mrs, Hopwith. ‘‘And if it ain’t asking more than I’ve any business to know, Ishould just like to hear what it isa girl like you wants of a grand gentleman like Colonel Falconer?” ‘¢T used to know him in the United States,” said Gratia, evasively. ‘‘Gone—gone! ButI might have expected it,” she added, almost hysterically. ‘‘He could not care for me any more, after—after i And she checked herself, to Mrs. Hopwith’'s sore she FG ‘‘It makes no difference,” she added, seeing the house- keeper's puzzled face. ‘‘ You ask what I wanted of him. I wanted help. I thought I might find a friend. Because I am quite alone and friendless in this country.” ‘‘But who are you?” demanded Mrs. Hopwith, more be- wildered than ever, ‘‘and how came you here ?” ‘« My name is Gratia Kempfield,” said the girl, with slow de- liberation, “‘and I came to Cheyne Regis with a family as gov- erness. I fell ill, and they left me behind.” ‘¢And what are you going to do now?” said Mrs. Hopwith: becoming more and more fascinated with the magnetic shine of the great hazel eyes. | ‘“To starve, I suppose!” Gratia answered, with startling calmness. ‘‘I suppose it AS what people generally do who have neither friends nor money.” |? Good Mrs. Hopwith’s heart melted at the look more than at ; the words, 4 Eomicbooks.co im