Vashti's Fate — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

CONFESSIONS. 287 ‘Will Nora forgive Aunt Margery all that sorrow and ~ ~ pain ?” The girl lifted her wet face, struggling with her emotion as she said, yielding her hand to her aunt: ‘‘J don’t think you were right, Aunt Margery; it almost broke my heart, but I forgive you.” ‘“*She is yours, Leon, all yours,” said Margery, pushing her toward him slightly. ‘‘I give her to you.” Nora drew back, scarlet even to her temples, and Leon, with an embarrassed laugh, left the room. Vashti lifted her head from her hands to say: “Aunt Margery, I have been a wayward, bad girl, reck- less and defiant of everything that crossed my willful path. Aunt Margery, forgive me all those cruel words | have said to you, and pray God will exorcise my evil spirit, as He has Nora’s.”’ ‘‘Vashti,” she said, and broke down. ‘‘Vashti,” she began again, with her trembling hands upon her head, as if © in benediction, ‘‘God bless and forgive us both; it is not for me to forgive you for yielding to the bitterness of your heart.” Half an hour after Vashti was in her own apartment, and Nora was softly pacing the sitting-room, alone, and with no light but that which came from the fire-place. Presently, with his quiet step, Leon Brownlee came into the room and joined her in her silent walk. » She did not look up, and when he took her small hand {in his she only looked away toward the fire, and by its light her face flushed brightly. He-drew her toward the hearth, gathered the other hand in his, and putting from her cheek the curl that yailed it, said ; ‘* Does Nora give herself to me?” m choo ee | a (Ko) cS CO m