Stella Rosevelt — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

EXPLANATIONS. 179 gay company was assembled, and passed on to a music-room which led into the library. Mr. Richards was in the latter room, seated at his desk, and the door between the two was open. As he saw his lordship, he arose and came forward to meet him. ‘‘Can I have a few moments conversation with you?” the young man asked, gravely. ‘‘Certainly; as many as you wish. Shall we retire to the privacy of the library?” returned Mr. Richards, who at once jumped to the conclusion that he was about to receive a formal proposal for the hand of his daughter. So also thought another listener, who happened to be stand- ing on the veranda just outside the open window of the music-_ room, and who had caught the above sentences. ‘“No,” Lord Carrol returned. ‘‘ What I have to say can just as well be said here as anywhere. I find myself unexpectedly in a very unpleasant situation, and I have come at once to you, because I consider a straightforward course the wisest always to pursue. I wish to tell you a little story, and then ask your assistance in correcting an awkward mistake.” “Anything that I can do for you, my lord, I shall be most happy to do,” blandly affirmed Mr. Richards, little realizing what he was promising, while he followed the young man’s example and sat down to listen to his narrative. ‘‘T came over from England, nearly a year ago, on the steamer , he began, ‘‘and on board that vessel 1 meta young girl of great personal beauty and intelligence, in whom I became intensely interested. She could not have been more than sixteen years of age, but her mind was far in advance of both her appearance and her years, while it was evident that she had been reared with great care, for every word and act betrayed her to be a perfect little lady, and every day spent in her society only served to make her more attractive in my sight. At parting, I gave her a trifle as 4 souvenir of our pleasant Gomilchooks =)