A Social Meteor — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

138 A SOCIAL METEOR. “Very well, then, good-by until to-morrow.” It was Ray’s custom every night when she was ready for bed, to come into Georgie’s room for a little chat and a final toasting before the fire. But to-night, everything was quiet next door, and Georgie wondered if she intended to come in and bid her good-night. Besides, she thought Annette was lingering much longer than ord1- narily over her mistress’ night toilet. At last she heard the maid goout and softly close the door after her. This astonished and angered Georgie at the same time. It was evident that Ray did not de- sire to talk with her that night, and so took this means of getting out of it. It was so small and cowardly of her. She knew that she had acted selfishly, and believed that by hiding her head, like the ostrich, no harm could come to her. Georgie sat gazing at the logs burning in the fire-place, for a quarter of an hour after this, think- ing and trying to make up her mind what it was best for her to do about this dinner, for she was fully resolved that it should not take place. But what could she say to Ray? If she had not the delicacy to see herself that it was a most undesirable arrangement (and it was evident to EORMIE OOOLS (E)