Gratia's Trials — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. | gs ** Say at once that you don’t mean to oblige me, and be done with it !” | ‘Oh, Alberta, it is not that !” said Gratia, rising and speak- ing in a stifled voice, as she laid her hand lightly on Alberta’s arm. ‘‘ You are welcome to the dress. I don’t care whether I wear white or yellow. All I ask is that you will try to like me a little.” ‘‘You're a darling !” said Alberta, with a kiss that was like the peck of a bird’s beak. She had won her object, and that was all she cared for. Circumstances rendered it desirable that she should at least keep an outward show of affection and cor- dial feeling toward her brother’s adopted daughter; but the pill, however gilded, became daily more crusted over with bit- terness. ‘‘And I dare say you can let out the seams of the crape dress, or something, and you ve got one of those fortunate complexions which can wear anything.” In her secret heart Alberta thought she had achieved two objects in this exchange of ball dresses—secured an exquisite costume for herself and made over to Gratia, for this her first ball, a dress which would make her look like a fright. In this last amiable aspiration, however, she was disap- pointed. The lemon-colored crape, which would have been trying to most complexions, made Gratia look like a delicate wild flower in the sunshine. Following her own instinct of propriety, she wore no jewels, only a cluster of yellow rosebuds in her hair, and a bow of ribbon at her throat, ‘‘ Here are your gloves,” said Ida, ‘‘and here is your bow: quet and fan. Oh, Gratia, how I wish I were big enough to go to the ball, too! But I shall make Louisette take me to the windows so I can peep in, as we did that moonlight night, you know.” | ‘‘Pshaw !” said Alberta. ‘‘Louisette has my laces to do up, and you had a great deal better go to bed.” ‘‘But I sha’n’t, though!” said Ida. ‘‘I couldn't sleep, I have got so excited watching you and Gratia dress,” Eomicbooks (E(o