Gratia's Trials — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

12 3 GRATIA’S TRIALS roused by the clock striking eight and Mrs. Kempfield’s voice, at one and the same time. Almira, I am cold; will you spread another blanket over me?” ‘©Cold!” echoed Miss Bassett; ‘‘and your head and hands feeling like fire! However; there’s blankets enough. JZ don't Gare, And she tossed a sage chintz comforter on the bed as she _ spoke. ‘“There now! Have you any more fault to find?” asked Miss Bassett, in an injured tone, as she dropped into the fire one of the powders the doctor had left, As the half-hours went by, Almira Bassett burned the little gray powders one by one, watching them blaze up with a sleepy gleam in her black eyes like the light emitted from a panther’s eyeballs. ‘* Better so,” she murmured to herself; ‘‘ better so.” It was some time after midnight when she rose and went to the door to get a stick of wood to replenish the dying fire. As shé stepped out into the hall, where the wood-box was kept, she started back with a smothered cry, for close to the angle of the door-way stood a slender figure, all in white, like a ghost. ‘* Gratia !” For it was Gratia, waiting and listening, with a deadly chill at her heart. ‘“What on earth are you doing here, child ?” demanded the old maid. ‘‘Go to bed right off, or I’ll call your pa.” Gratia disdained to answer ; she only turned and glided away. But she did not go to bed : Hen the gray dawn rose above the mountains she was still sting on the stairs, waiting and listen- ing. Eomichbooks:.co 2)