Vashti's Fate — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

aT ELIZABETH BRENT AGAIN. 145 dislike to displease her, of all others, with so disgraceful a recital,” ‘“ Disgraceful, Mrs. Gordon ?”’ ‘“* Disgraceful, Vashti.” “TJ was uncourteous to you, Mrs. Gordon, for which I made the apology you demanded, It was a fault of the moment, but I see nothing disgraceful about that or any- thing else that I did last night.” ‘“Perverse child! You will at least acknowledge that it is disgraceful to be sent home, as you are about to be.” ‘‘Not sent home, Mrs. Gordon. I could stay if I chose, could I not?” | “Tf you accepted the conditions, you could ?” “Which I do not; I choose to go home—I am not sent.” ‘‘Tt amounts to the same thing,” said Mrs. Gordon, looking at the girl curiously, and trying in vain to be angry. | Vashti’s whole attitude, though firm, was not at all defiant, but on the contrary, rather subdued and de- spondent. ‘‘T believe you are sorry to go home after all,” Mrs. Gordon said, with a half smile. ‘‘Indeed I am, ma'am; I would much rather stay.” _ “Why not stay?” “‘T am not sorry I struck Elizabeth Brent, Mrs. Gor- don, nor ever shall be. Besides, if she and I both staid, I am afraid you would haye another ‘disgraceful affair’ on hand before long.” She spoke with sober earnestness, and Mrs. Gordon, checking the smile that rose involuntarily to her lips, said : “You are a singular child. I was very angry with you last night, but can’t for my life be angry this morning. | comicbooks:co