Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

174 A SEVERE THREAT, ‘‘T have assisted in the care of Mr. Vernon,” she returned, quite asicily. ‘‘ Have you anything to say, madam ?” Lady Venetia drew forth her purse, a tiny toy of blue velvet and pearls ; opening it she extracted a sovereign and placed it in Lola’s nerveless hand. It was as though she had suddenly struck the girl a stinging blow. Lola’s eyes dilated widely, her face became ghastly white, her breath came in panting gasps, and she shuddered as though a chill breeze had passed over her. She turned quickly and flung the money through the open window. - **How dare you insult me?” she panted: ‘‘ Lady Venetia Chandos, I will pay you back for this some day, though it cost me my life!’ And she fled from the room, as though she dare not trust herself to remain longer. ~ Lady Venetia lifted her innocent blue eyes, full of wonder, to where Dot stood watching her with moody gaze. ‘Dear me!” cried my lady, ‘‘what an odd person, to be sure! What does she mean? I suppose she is one of the actresses, who, I am told, are stopping at Waltham ; low crea- tures, of course, all of them! Nota woman among them is respectable, and ——” ‘Stop, my lady !” Dot's tiny form was drawn up to its full height, her brown eyes were blazing with a dangerous fire; for a moment she looked like a queen of tragedy. Ah, could Dot have carried that gesture, attitude, tone upon the stage, she need no longer essay her small parts, but aspire to the career of a ‘‘ star.” ‘‘Lady Chandos!” she said, ina ringing, indignant voice, ‘what right have you to speak in that way of honest women— quite as respectable, and virtuous, and good as yourself? How dare you judge all by a pitiful few? Madam, JZ am an actress, and Iam proud of my profession. My life is just as pure as your own, my hands just as clean of all wrong-doing. I would EOomichbooks.co aD