Stella Rosevelt — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

340 | FYOSEPHINE’S AMBITION. If they were successors to Sir Charles Thornton, they would occupy no mean position in the social world, she reasoned. and it would be nu more than right to cultivate their acquaintance, while she could but acknowledge that Mrs. Richards was quite a superior appearing woman, and Josephine possessed beauty of a very brilliant tvpe. The half hour that she spent conversing with Mrs. Richards only served to strengthen the good opinion she had at first formed. and before they left Mr. Comptons she had arranged with them to spend a portion of the following week at their estate in Cheshire. This was more than Mrs. Richards had expected, but she plumed herse'f upon her tact in managing things so cleverly. and looked forward to the visit with no small amount of interest. The next day, through Lady Sherbrooke’s influence, she re- ceived cards for a grand reception at Lady Tukesbury’s, who resided in a pilatial mansion in Piccadilly, and she felt assured that they were now fully launched upon a brilliant career. Of course they accepted the invitation, she appearing in black velvet, point lace, and diamonds, while Josephine was resplen- dent in rich white silk and scarlet verbenas, and created quite a sensation in ‘‘ Japonica-dom,” greatly to her mother’s delight and her own satisfaction. ‘‘Who is she? Where did she come from?” was whispered on all sides. | ‘““An American? Ah! that accounts for her brilliant style of beauty, then. Inherit Sir Charles Thornton estates, do they? In that case they will be quite an acquisition to society,” were the opinions expressed and the conclusions arrived at by people who were careful in such matters; and then seekers for intro- ductions—and seekers for fortunes—pressed forward for an in- troduction to the beautiful young heiress. | But notwithstanding Josephine enjoyed herself, and felt. no (E(0) Gomicbooks