Vashti's Fate — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

118 LAUREL HILL—TROUBLE. Vashti started and changed color, thinking she was about to be reproved for that indignant expression of hers a little before; but as she stood near him, wishing the earth would swallow her, his. pleasant voice again reassured her. ‘‘] want to talk with you about what branches of study you will pursue.” Her face lighted up, and as he proceeded to make a gen- tle but thorough examination into the nature and extent of her requirements, Vashti forgot all about the brown Hol- land apron. Here she had no cause for embarrassment. Thanks to Miss Gresham, what she knew she knew well. = Miss Gresham never did her work by halves, and Professor ~ — Thorpe found her wonderfully well versed for a girl of four- % teen, in all the branches that constitute a good English education. He apportioned to Vashti her lessons, provided her with the necessary books, and dismissed her with the sunshine of her own rare, beautiful smile gladdening her face. That first day passed, the rest of it, more pleasantly. Mrs. Gordon, informed of the annoyance to which she had been subjected, had provided against any immediate Tecur- rence of the same. She was elated by her interview with Professor Thorpe—pleased with her books; more elated still, when at recitations, she found that she was placed in classes with girls much older than herself—and then did herself such credit as to attract marked notice. Only once again that day was she wounded. She was returning to her room after evening prayers, when among the crowd of girls. some one said in a loud whisper : ‘‘Long-sleeved, high-necked. It looks as though it was made for a Hottentot.” Some of the girls laughed, a few cried ‘‘for shame,” and Miss Curtiss, one of the t->->°rs_ said: . e: ; ' “ - = 2y nel x i oS ag ieee eas apr: , - 5 on : —- pe ek en P’ cole te 9 ge - com boo ks. com , vw rs « es - nic Py a. bg b ie? “< ee A, “ay oo f ar ’ : , ; r « . * i! . . . rn Pd e. SS Pe dh = : . ad rye . 4 . ay ‘* ee . > Dg ee, 4 - Ty, "A : - ‘ . ~ . - Me Me * vs of. ~~ & » _ ™ le a) ee ‘ fa _ - We-G ~ 3 dt* Am. ; yi 6 ee : ’ : me bic” ht bg et Tr a eee eT eo maha: Sa Bet Dy: PPD Mate ee Bem CN Ts Yee De "TF ee -