Stella Rosevelt — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

WHAT NEXT? 251 the aperture—a face all beaming with smiles of pleasure and good nature. ‘Mrs. Blunt!” cried Star, in astonishment; and springing toward the woman, she grasped both her hands warmly. ‘‘Yes, Miss Star,” the woman returned, half laughing, half crying; ‘‘Il am Mrs. Blunt, or I’m much mistaken, as I some- times imagine I may be when I get to thinking about every- thing, and how strange it has all turned out. How well you're looking, miss, and it does my old eyes a wonderful sight of good to see your bright face again.” Star thought her language somewhat ambiguous; but every- thing seemed rather ambiguous just then. ‘Do you live here?” she questioned. ‘Ves, I live here; or is ‘‘Have you been in New York long? and why haven't we seen you before? and what are you laughing at?” The young girls astonishment seemed to increase, for the woman appeared strangely, and was shaking with suppressed laughter. ‘“‘l’m laughing because I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been in New York a month, and haven't been to see you because the last time I saw Mr. Rosevelt he told me he was going to bring you to see me soon; so I’ve been content to wait,” Mrs. Blunt explained. Star wondered if the present occupant of that elegant place allowed her housekeeper to entertain her friends in the drawing- room ; if so, it was surely a new departure, and not exactly in accordance with Mrs. Richards’ ideas of the treatment of servants. ‘Take off your hat, dearie,” Mrs. Blunt continued, ‘‘for I have a nice little lunch waiting for you.” ‘A lunch?” repeated Star, in amazement, and with a puzzled look at Mr. Rosevelt, who was regarding her attentively. “Yes; I had orders to get up the nicest lunch I could for ‘ Gomichbooks: Go =)