Gratia's Trials — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

a ——— Ff. GRATIA’S TRIALS. <3 @ “No,” said she, ‘‘I shall stay and read the story of ‘ Cinder- ella and the Little Glass Slipper’ to Gratia, while she is mend- ing my stockings. ” ‘* There it is,” said Alberta, ‘‘ that Gratia has just spoiled the child. Natalie was a great deal more judicious with her.” ‘“Dused good taste the little puss has,” observed Robert, who was lounging on a sofa. ‘‘I wouldn’t mind reading aloud ‘Cinderella and the What’s-its-Name’ myself. She’s as pretty as a blue-bell, that little Gratia.” ‘“‘Robert,” said Mrs. Falconer, reprovingly, ‘‘I am aston- ished at you !” ‘“‘ What for, mother? Don’t you suppose I have any eyes in my head? Shevzs pretty. Rynders, the artist, said, yes- terday, that she had a head like a Madonna.” ‘“Artists are privilged to be eccentric,” observed Alberta. ‘And she is such a mere child !” ‘«She is sixteen,’’ said Ida, ‘‘and I love her, oh, so Se Me Alberta signaled to her brother not to pursue the subject further. ‘* Little pitchers have big ears,” she said. ‘‘. know you mean me,” said Ida. ‘‘And I know Aunt Alberta doesn’t like Gratia, because she has got pink cheeks and such pretty white teeth. But Z like her—and papa likes her.” ‘©The mischief he does!” whistled Robert Falconer. * *k k * xk * K ‘‘Gratia,” Ida said, when the two were alone that afternoon, by their own special veranda door, ‘‘what is a Madonna?” Why ?” ‘‘ Because Mr. Rynders says you are like one.” Gratia turned scarlet. -‘He means an old picture, Ida. When did he say so?” ‘*T don’t know; I didn’t hear him ; Uncle Robert told Aunt Alberta so.” Ida was restless and sleepless that night, * cComicbooks m (E(0)