Stella Rosevelt — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

70 A CONSULTATION. Mrs. Richards was dumfounded upon being informed of the decided stand which her spirited little ward had taken, and her indignation in consequence knew no bounds. ‘The impudent little beggar!” she ejaculated, crimson with rage. ‘‘ Does she expect to rule me, or balk me like this? She will find herself greatly mistaken. I will give her a dose in the ~ morning—‘ such a dose,’ as Mr. Flintwinch was wont to remark ‘to his beloved Affery.” ‘¢Ellen, you will do no such thing,” her husband returned, firmly. ‘‘ Have you forgotten Mr. Gladstone's letter to you and your reply to him? When you wrote accepting the guardian- ship of his daughter, you did so in a way to lead him to believe that you would do your best for her.” ‘‘And so I am doing my best for her,” interrupted his wife. ‘You have talked of nothing but retrenchment for the last six months, and I have /rzed to retrench. I knew the coming of this girl would make an extra mouth to feed, so I made up my mind to make her useful, and save something if I could.” ‘Well, the child says she is willing to be useful, but you are not fulfilling your agreement by making a drudge of her. Mr. Gladstone understood that you would give careful attention to her education, which he evidently has conducted upon the most thorough principles, and he expected that you would fill as far as possible his place toward her.” ‘“How do you know what I wrote to him? You did not see my letter,” demanded Mrs. Richards, angrily. . ‘“‘T have seen it to-night. The girl has it, and showed it to 3 me; and now I want you to live up to your promises,” replied: her husband, gravely. ‘“She ought to be thankful that she has a roof to shelter her. Do you suppose I am going to allow her to interfere with Josephine’s rights ?” ‘Certainly not; but this girl is exceedingly bright and pretty ; let them become mates and share alike, and I'll wager (E(0) Eomichbooks