Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

rite with madam. She says you are very proficient in both inusic and drawing. I’m glad of that—Miss Belle, make up your mind to spend two or three hours daily at the piano.” Miss Belle made a comical grimace, and shrugged her shoulders. The action was so droll that Hazel’s eyes began to twinkle, and a smile of amusement to struggle at the corners of her pretty mouth, whereupon Belle laughed ontright, tossed her wayward head, and cried, merrily: **Miss Gay, I hope you are not very ferocious, for, if you come to us, f am the incorrigible pupil whom you are expected to reduce to order.” A smile, like a ray of warmest sunlight, broke over Hazel’s face at this. and she felt instantly that she wna be good friends with the frank, outspoken ir). But before she could reply, Mrs. Stewart exclaimed, reproachfully : “Ferocious! What an expression to use to a young lady, Belle! I mustinsist upon your being more re- ffhed in your language. Miss Gay, won't you play something for us? L am something of a critic in musie myself,” the lady continued, glancing across the room toward a handsome upright piano. Hazel flushed. She was not shy about playing before people usu- ally, but the word ‘critic, and something in Mrs. Sear e imperious manner, disconcerted her some- what. The duchess had been quietly observant of Hazel ever since she entered the room. She saw ata glance that she was a little lady, in spite of the fact that she was applying for a “sifvation,”’ and hen cing heart went out to her in sympathy mingled