The Widowed Bride — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE. o7 «‘Come here, you pretty little thing, and give me a kiss!” cried Mrs. Heneage, ecstatically; and Rena with the envi- ous eyes of all the other three-and-thirty girls upon her, advanced, confused and embarrassed, to touch with her fr esh dewy lips the cheek of the Honorable Mrs. Heneage. This little incident settled Rena Mordaunt’s standing in the Wykenham Refuge. Mrs. Heneage had kissed _ her, and noticed her specially, and the little populace there, like the average one of the outer world, was quick to take the one given by the gracious hand of aristocracy. There was no more insult, mockery, no more coyert neglect, the girls clustered around Rena in an admiring throng as the Honorable Mrs. Heneage, Lady Barrowfield, and Mrs. Col- onel Cluny were led away on an inspecting tour to the dor- mitory, refectory, and play-room. ‘“‘T wish I was you, Rena!” cried Mary Ann Jones. “Ain’t she dressed like the queen!” chimed in another. “Did you see them bracelets around her.wrists? Wasn’t you pleased, Rena Mordaunt?” “1 tasted the powder on _ her face,” said Rena, with a "grimace, “‘Bhe isn’t a bit pretty, and I don’t want to kiss her again.’ “Tal do hear her talk?” said Mary Ann. ‘‘Why, _ ain’t she the Honorable Mrs. Heneage, as keeps fourteen servants? Mary Ellis, as used to be here once, is under laundry-maid there, and she says they do have things ele- gant, and more money than they know how to spend. » ‘‘Let’s go and play ball,” said Rena, recklessly. ‘We don’t have to sit still any longer, do we?” “The lady visitors might come back,” said Mary Ann, smoothing the gathers in her apron, “and iS At this moment Mrs. Mar opened the door, looking red- der and more excited than ever. ‘Rena, my dear, come here,” said she, eagerly. ‘Upon my word, you are in good luck!” _ Rena obeyed the beckoning motion of her finger, albeit _with a somewhat bewildered air. ‘Should you like to be a lady, my dear?” said Mrs. Mar, leading her triumphantly away. ‘“The Honorable Mrs. Heneage wishes to adopt you!” And before Rena could realize what was meant by the matron’s words she found herself in aie august presence of the oy Zou herself. . -_ —_— Gomicboo €s) (ele)