In Sight of St. Paul's — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

204 THE PANTHER’S BIRTHDAY, Her entrance was greeted by shouts of acclamation. A strange picture she made in her plain, black dress amid this crowd of women in their silks and _ velvets and flashing jewels. She passed her hand over her eyes, as if. trying to rouse herself from some horrible dream. Then before her she saw the beautiful, sneering face of the woman who had caused her and hers so much trouble, and recognized—Cynthia Dell. With a smothered cry of horror, she turned to fly, but the Panther, her black eyes flashing with tri- umph, prevented her. , ‘“Close the doors!’’ she cried, an order which was instantly obeyed. ‘‘Now she is here, she must do as others do.”’ Aileen stood trembling, not able to flee, a white dove caught in the trap of the fowler. Beatrice touched her on the arm reverently. The woman’s sympathies were aroused. ‘Pll see you through it,’’ she whispered. Aileen glanced at the gorgeously attired woman, and, not understanding, involuntarily shrank away. Beatrice understood, however, and, hurt though she was, inurmured, encouragingly: ‘Courage! courage!”’ ‘Give her some wine!’’ said the Panther, eyeing the shrinking form with malevolence and a gloating triumph. | , GEomicbooks. co