Vashti's Fate — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

LEAVING EVERLEIGH. 247 His pallid cheek caught a glow of bravery from her dauntless eyes, and he answered : ‘‘VYes!” hissing the word from between his set white teeth. CHAPTER XXVIII. LEAVING EVERLEIGH. A month went by. Vashti was the same reserved, incom- prehensible being, to the members of the household, but always self-possessed and composed ; and 1) visitors called, as they did sometimes nowadays, she was courteous and even affable and conversive. She had never kept up acquaintance or correspondence with any of her Laurel Hill schoolmates, save Violet Granger. For some reason Violet had never made the promised visit to Everleigh, but they had corresponded regularly ; and Vashti one morning astonished Miss Gresham and Nora by announcing that she was going the following week to Clifton, where her old friend lived. Violet had just left school, and was so glad and happy, that she could not be content till she had dispatched an in- vitation to Vashti to come and visit her. ‘This invitation came very acceptably to Vashti, who had been for some time casting about in her mind, for an opportunity to take herself from the bounds of Everleigh. Miss Gresham made ne reply to the abrupt announcement of her inten-_ tion, and neither did Nora, but both looked grave. However, as Nora reasoned to her aunt half an hour after, when they were alone, they ought to be pleased at the cS Eco) Eomicboo mn