My trunk was delayed so I put on an old cotton dress her niece had left here -- and you came and saw me . I made Mrs. Pennington keep the secret -- she thought it great fun ; and I really was a great hand to do little chores and keep the cats in subjection too . I made mistakes in grammar and dropped my g 's on purpose -- it was such fun to see you wince when I did it . It was cruel to tease you so , I suppose , but it was so sweet just to be loved for myself -- not because I was an heiress and a belle -- I could n't bear to tell you the truth . Did you think I could n't read your thoughts this afternoon , when I insisted on going ashore ? You were a little ashamed of me -- you know you were . I did n't blame you for that , but if you had n't gone ashore and taken me as you did I would never have spoken to you again . Mrs. Keyton-Wells wo n't snub me next time we meet . And some way I do n't think your father will turn you out , either . Have you forgiven me yet , Burton ? '' `` I shall never call you anything but Nelly , '' said Winslow irrelevantly . The Red Room You would have me tell you the story , Grandchild ? 'T is a sad one and best forgotten -- few remember it now . There are always sad and dark stories in old families such as ours . Yet I have promised and must keep my word . So sit down here at my feet and rest your bright head on my lap , that I may not see in your young eyes the shadows my story will bring across their bonny blue . I was a mere child when it all happened , yet I remember it but too well , and I can recall how pleased I was when my father 's stepmother , Mrs. Montressor -- she not liking to be called grandmother , seeing she was but turned of fifty and a handsome woman still -- wrote to my mother that she must send little Beatrice up to Montressor Place for the Christmas holidays . So I went joyfully though my mother grieved to part with me ; she had little to love save me , my father , Conrad Montressor , having been lost at sea when but three months wed. . My aunts were wont to tell me how much I resembled him , being , so they said , a Montressor to the backbone ; and this I took to mean commendation , for the Montressors were a well-descended and well-thought-of family , and the women were noted for their beauty . This I could well believe , since of all my aunts there was not one but was counted a pretty woman .
Therefore I took heart XXXXX grace when I thought of my dark face and spindling shape , hoping that when I should be grown up I might be counted not unworthy of my race .
So as at if in of on that though to