Gratia's Trials — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 81 cigar from between his lips; ‘‘I think, in the first place, it is none of my business ; and in the second place, I must say that I approve of Hugo’s decisiane and | think he has done a very wise thing.” Mrs. Falconer drew a long breath of despair and dismay. “What will Alberta say ?” she exclaimed. ‘*Tt matters little what she says, ’ Colonel Falconer responded. ‘“But of this I wish you would warn her, mother—she must be ' more circumspect in her manner toward my adopted daughter than she has chosen to be toward Gratia Kem pfield. You will remember this?” Mrs. Falconer winced, but Hugo was too important a person in the family, especially as regarded financial matters, to be thwarted, and she was forced unwillingly to accede to his re- quest. Uncle Ralph and his nephew were both agreed on this point, and the dashing widow was In a minority. She was relieved at this moment by the entrance of Alberta herself. ‘© Here she is herself,” said Mrs. Falconer. ‘‘ Alberta, we were just speaking of you. Hugo wishes you to be particu- larly agreeable and polite to a young lady” (politic though she was, Mrs. Falconer could not suppress the spiteful intona- tion of her voice here) BL he has chosen to adopt as his daughter.” ‘¢Who is it?” eagerly demanded Alberta. ‘*Gratia Kempfield.”’ ‘‘Impossible, mamma!” cried Alberta, incredulously. ‘‘Hugo never would be so mad—so quixotic |” ‘Tt is not only possible, my dear sister,” said Colonel Fal- coner, quietly, ‘‘but it is a fact to which you may as well reconcile yourselves now, as at any time. Gratia is to be my eldest child—that is, if she consents. I have not yet divulged my plans to her, but I shall proceed to do so at once,” ‘Qh, she will consent readily enough, you may be quite Gcomicbooks (€(0)