Vashti's Fate — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING. — 211 closed. Lifting the almost nerveless hand, Vashti laid it on her head, crying passionately : ‘‘Mamma, bless Vashti!” Like one called back from death to life, and hovering there, the dying mother opened her fast glazing eyes, saying in a feeble whisper something, of which those standing round gathered the words ‘‘blessed,” and ‘‘ forgiven.” Her hand slipped from Vashti’s head, its pulse had stopped. There was a sound of low sobs in the room that death had entered, and Vashti, not fainting, but feeble as a little child, with the reaction upon her overwrought powers, had to be supported to her bed, where she imme- diately fell away into a long slumber, so deep, so still, so almost breathless, that Nora longed to wake her, lest she, too, should die. CHAPTER XXVI. A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING, Dr. Gracie made no attempt to conceal his anxiety with regard to Vashti. He had a guard posted at each entrance of the passage leading by her door, with the most positive orders to maintain the utmost silence. Noone wassuffered to even enter the passage, save himself, Margery Gresham, or Nora. Margery Gresham placed herself at the very threshold of the door, leaving it only for a short interval of rest, and the anxious expression of her deep gray eye was something almost fearful to look upon. The household was hushed to the utmost silence; the servants went about as if shod with list. ; com C 4 ethyel in at ak hee cS mn 900