Gratia's Trials — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 77 _ **And here are the consequences of the whole system !” said Alberta, angrily. ‘‘If you choose, mamma, to go trailing through Long Branch with a servant maid stuck up in the car- riage with you, you may do so—Z won’t !” ‘““T don't care whether you do or not, Aunt Alberta,” said Ida, saucily. ‘‘I love Gratia, and I don’t love you. I will have Gratia in the carriage,” ‘‘Ida, Ida!” remonstrated Gratia, who had heard every word of the discussion from her place by the door. But Ida refused utterly to be appeased or quieted, and Alberta sprang out of the carriage with a countenance of indescribable disgust. ““You- had better get in, Ass Gratia,” she said, insolently emphasizing the prefix. ‘‘Z shall remain at home.” Gratia hesitated; the scarlet blood rushed hotly to her cheeks ; she did not move. _ Gratia!” called the child, holding out both hands, ‘‘Grand- mamma, tell her to come.” ‘Get in, Gratia,” said Mrs, Falconer, shortly, speaking with a suppressed voice, ‘‘ The child must have her way, I sup- pose, but "—and she compressed her lips—‘‘ there will have to be a stop to this sort of thing. I must speak to my son Hugo.” It may readily be supposed that, after this, the airing was not particularly pleasant to Gratia, although Ida was in the highest of spirits, and chatted merrily away as the luxuriously — cushioned carriage rolled along the thronged road. ‘‘Oh, grandmamma, look !” she cried; ‘‘there is Mr. Fen- wick, with all the children ; and Miss Allie Thorpe on horse- back ; and there goes Mr. Ardenham. Oh, see! he is bowing to Gratia » he thinks she is Aunt Alberta.”’ The child broke into a laugh as she spoke, but Mrs. Fal- coner’s brow darkened, and Gratia felt her face burn. ‘‘Mr. Ardenham is perhaps not aware,” said Mrs. Falconer, speaking in measured accents, ‘‘that in our family the nufse- maid not unfrequently usurps the place of the young lady.” Eomicbooks: co im