The Widowed Bride — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

64 ; THE WIDOWED BRIDE. We are not in any way related to Lady Barrowfield, free said Rena, turning suddenly round. “Not related to her!” echoed Miss Hartford. ‘‘No!” Rena answered, curtly. “But I thought——” ‘‘T can’t help what you thought,” said Rena, resolutely. ‘‘We are no relatives whatever to Lady Barrowfield. Come, Alice, the French professor must be here already, and we have not even thought of our exercises.’ ‘I'he other girls were all curiosity respecting the sudden death of the Misses Percival’s friend, and - reappearance of Rena and Alice in the school-room was a signal for a shower of queries. “Of course you'll be asked to the funeral?” said Emily © Darte. ‘‘My Aunt Helen says it will be something very rand.” : “Of course she won’t,” said Adela Cheriton, a haughty blonde of seventeen, who cordially disliked Rena Percival, because nature had endowed her with a larger share of brains than she herself was fortunate enough to possess. ‘*She is no relation to Lady Barrowfield!’ And then, in astage whisper, purposely intended to be audible, she added, ‘Mamma — knows the Barrowfields, and she says my lady picked up these Percival children somewhere and adopted them. Rela- tives! indeed, I wouldn’t give mueh for their relatives!” “Wouldn’t you, indeed?” demanded Rena, with a con- _ temptuous pout of her cherry lip. «“N °, I wouldn’t!” retorted Miss Cheriton, with brighten- ing color and scintillating eyes. ‘‘Some people have a sort of managing way that ingratiates them with those who aren't over particular about their associates, but It's only surface-deep!” ~ *Come, Adela Cheriton,” said Rena, walking composedly up to her tall adversary, ‘‘I don’t want any more of this nonsense. Speak out plainly, or don’t speak at all—that’s. my motto. Do you mean me, by ‘some people?’ ” ‘Tl don’t choose to render explanations to you!” haughtily responded Miss Cheriton, a little awed, if the truth must be _ spoken, by Rena’s determined manner. “Tf I were a man I would knock you down!” said Rena, | - dauntiessly. : ei “Fortunately you are not!” flashed back Ake Cheriton, — ‘although I really don’t see why you should hesitate at any- — : ‘ -- “= a = s comicbooks.com | * a a