Gratia's Trials — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

84 : GRATIA’S TRIALS. ‘As if such people ever kept their promises after your back was turned !” said Mrs. Falconer, contemptuously. ‘« At all events, I won’t pay her a cent for the dress !” fumed Alberta. ‘And she caught up the gold-bright folds, and tossed them away from her. ‘‘Seems to me you are making a great fie about a dress, Aunt Alberta,” said Ida, philosophically. ‘‘I heard Louisette say yesterday that you had fourteen ball dresses. I should think that you might at least find ome fit to wear.” ‘© Louisette had better mind her own business,” said Alberta, sharply. ‘‘ How does your dress look, Gratia?” “Tt is beautiful!” Gratia returned quietly. For Colonel Falconer had left orders with Madame Finelli, the fashionable modiste, that his adopted daughter should have a wardrobe sup- plied her such as befitted a girl of sixteen, newly entering the gay world at Long Branch. ‘Show it to Aunt Alberta,” cried Ida, eagerly. -*‘It is so lovely !” It was lovely—simple white lace, over dead white silk, the _ overskirt caught up in graceful folds by lilies of the valley, with polished green leaves half hiding the silvery bells, and a wreath of the same delicate white blossoms. Alberta surveyed it greedily. : ‘¢Finelli can trim exquisitely when she pleases,” she cried, with a sort of grudging enthusiasm. ‘‘ That white silk would fit me exactly—lI know it is just my pattern! Gratia,” with an affectation of cordiality, ‘‘ why won’t you exchange, this once?” _ “Exchange?” repeated Gratia, hardly catching her meaning at first. ‘“Yes—you could wear the lemon crape—you are so much more slender than I am—and it really would be quite become to you. Do, and I'll let you wear the set of oriental Lopazes,t I do not want to wear the topazes, Alberta.” “Of course you don't,” cried Alberta, turning abruptly away. Gcomicbooks.com