Mr. Richards was greatly astonished at what he had heard, and in no small degree disappointed, for he liked the young man, and his wife had affirmed that Josephine was the magnet that had drawn his lordship thither, and she had also confidently asserted that he would propose for her hand before he left.
But, of course, he could not betray anything of this feeling, after having been made the confidant of another love affair; therefore he said, with as much self-possession as he could command:
“The situation is somewhat unpleasant for you, I admit, my young friend, but I think it may be easily made right. I must confess I am much surprised by what you have told me; the story is certainly romantic in every respect. And you met the young lady by accident to-night? She is, then, a resident of Yonkers. Who may she be? Perhaps she is no one whom I know.”
“She is Miss Gladstone, and your wife’s ward, I believe,” Lord Carrol replied, and bending a grave look upon his host.
Mr. Richards nearly bounded from the piano stool upon which he had been sitting at this startling intelligence, while outside that open window there was a sound as of some one weakly sinking into a chair. But both gentlemen were so deeply engaged in the subject under consideration that they did not appear to hear it.
“Star!” ejaculated Mr. Richards, when he could recover his breath.
“Yes, sir; Miss Star Gladstone is the lady of whom I have told you,” Lord Carrol replied, somewhat coldly, for he could not understand why any one so lovely and accomplished in every way as Star was should have been so slighted and ill-treated in his family.
“But I do not understand—I cannot see—I—I beg pardon; but, to tell the truth, I am completely taken aback by what you have told me,” Mr. Richards stammered, for it was to him a most astounding revelation.
“I expected that my communication would surprise you; but you cannot be more so than I was upon learning to-night that Miss Gladstone is a member of your family,” returned his lordship.
“But you tell me that you were intending to call upon her friends to-morrow, and here you have been in the same house a day and a night already.”