Page 133 (1/2)

"Mlle Celie is under control," she said "We shall have to teach

her that it is not polite in young ladies to kick" She pressed

Celia doith a hand upon her back, and her voice changed "Lie

still," she coely "Do you hear? Do you knohat

this is, Mlle Celie?" And she held the flask towards the girl's

face "This is vitriol, my pretty one Move, and I'll spoil these

smooth white shoulders for you Hoould you like that?"

Celia shuddered fro her face in the

cushion, lay treed for death upon her

knees rather than suffer this horror She felt Vauquier's fingers

lingering with a dreadful caressing touch upon her shoulders and

about her throat She ithin an ace of the torture, the

disfigurement, and she knew it She could not pray for mercy

She could only lie quite still, as she was bidden, trying to control

the shuddering of her liood lesson for Mlle Celie," Helene continued

slowly "I think that if Mlle Celie will forgive the liberty I

ought to inflict it One little tilt of the flask and the satin of

these pretty shoulders--"

She broke off suddenly and listened Soiven Celia a respite, perhaps more than a respite Helene set the