Stella Rosevelt — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

5s STELLA’ S APPEAL. - Mrs. Richards felt- very uncomfortable, for she knew that every word Star uttered was truth. She knew, too, that she was doing a mean and cowardly thing in making the bright and talented girl a servant; but she mus¢ have a house-maid. If she must curtail, she must do it in this way rather than in her own or Josephine’s wardrobe. ‘‘You are very impertinent, miss, and have been reared with altogether too high notions for one in your position,” she said, angrily. ‘* You ought to be thankful for a roof to cover your head, and anything to cover your nakedness, coming’ here, as you did, destitute of everything. An equal in my family, in- deed! Music, painting, and drawing! What will Josephine say to that, I wonder? And who did you suppose was going to foot the bills? It won't do you any harm to have some of this independence taken out of you, and I'll have you under- stand, once for all, that you will fill Maggie Flynn’s position in this house, or none.” Star bowed her proud head coldly. She saw that she was helpless for the present, and must yield to the inevitable. ‘‘Very well,” she said, calmly. ‘‘I understand from Mrs, Blunt that Maggie Flynn was about my age; that she had six dollars a month besides her board, and two evenings out a week. I will consent to fill her place, for the present, upon the same conditions. ” ‘‘Upon my word!” exclaimed Mrs. Richards, in a towering passion at this unexpected proposition. ‘‘I never heard any- thing like itin my hfe! You forget that you are indebted to me for the very clothes you have on at this moment.” Star could hardly repress a smile at this calculating out- break. ‘““You have given me the print for two dresses,” she an- ~ swered, with ready tact, ‘‘the cost of which, with us in Eng-_ land, would be four pence a yard. I have nearly made them mys@f{, but you can deduct whatever you see fit, and I will (e(e) Gomicbooks