Vashti's Fate — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

114 LAUREL HILL—TROUBLE. ‘‘ You will doubtless be greatly improved in manners by your sojourn here. I’ve a mind to stop myself.” Vashti made no reply, and presently the teacher already alluded to came forward with an apology for not having seen them before, and a rebuke to the chattering girls that’ sent them toa respectful distance. Without relieving them from their traveling wrapping, she led the way out of the room and across the hall to a smaller sitting-room, well lighted and warmed, in which, having assisted to remove cloaks and hoods, she left them, while she went to sum- mon Mrs. Gordon, the mistress of the establishment. _ Mrs. Gordon soon made her appearance—a woman of the ‘‘fat, fair, and forty ” stamp—trather graceful and affa- ble in general deportment, with a touch of stateliness about her. } She received her new pupil with a grave courtesy that somewhat soothed Vashti’s ruffled spirits, had a most re- freshing repast prepared for them in time, entertained them till bed-time very agreeably, and finally put them in a com- fortable sleeping-room. : Miss Gresham was off the next morning bright and early, and Vashti was left to her fate. She had risen at four on a cold, wintry morning to see her aunt off. At seven they had breakfast—the pupils— and Vashti joined them. She had not partaken of break- fast with her aunt, and brought to the table a fine appetite, which, however, almost wholly vanished as she stood at the long- table, feeling herself the cynosure of many eyes— Strange, uncomfortable, schoolgirl eyes. She had by this time become disagreeably conscious that she was not dressed as others were. Living the secluded life they did at Everleigh, but little attention had been paid to outward adornments or the fashions of the outside 4 & SS ait choy ~~ - a * A \ | a ¢ - @ é ~- ee | . i Pa ., ' ay ve -* ‘ r ; “ad. i, . “ah: Fie . fs F : ~ . ~- . Md >: “) ‘ " a ia t'> i * 8 = A Ps “et —* Oe Pe ee (ah foe” “SR cee © treet pee Q ~ 9 * - ; - Fe sh dae BD