Stella Rosevelt — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

MRS: RICHARDS. 45 Mrs. “ ichards smiled in a lofty kind of way, as stie returned : ‘“Tt is very natural, I suppose, that you should be your fathers champion; nevertheless he was not, socially, your mother’s equal, and she degraded herself in the eyes of all her family by marrying a penniless preacher, and a dissenter, too.” Star's lips parted again, as if about to utter an indignant protest to this statement; but, with a wave of her white hand, Mrs. Richards coolly dismissed the subject and tummed again to Mrs. Blunt. ‘*T suppose everything alee to her was lost,” she said. ‘Yes, madam; the poor child has nothing in the world save what she has on,” that woman answered, with a compassionate glance at Star. ‘“That is awkward; but you can take her to the sewing- room and tell Miss Baker to measure her for a couple of dresses; tell her to make them from that piece of print that I purchased yesterday. Can you sew, Stella?” she asked, turning again to the young girl, whom she had not even invited to be seated. ‘“Yes'm; mamma taught me to sew when I was quite young, and I have attended to my own wardrobe, with the aid of a Seamstress, ever since she died.” - ‘‘That is well. You can then assist Miss Baker about your dresses, and when they are completed I will arrange about your other duties, You. can go now. Mrs, Blunt will show you the way to your room, where you can lay aside your shawl and hat and then go to the sewing-room.” Star gave the woman a stare of blank astonishment. She had been most delicately and tenderly reared; her edu- cation had been carefully superintended by her father, and the constant companionship of her refined and intellectual mother had made her a little lady in every sense of the word. She had been taught to be kind and courteous to every cne; to sym- pathize with people in trouble; to rejoice with them in pros- Ge | . GEomicbooks: Go