“Yes, hoping for your sanction, of course,” Lord Carrol answered, with a rising flush, for he could read something of what was passing in his host’s mind. “But, pardon me,” he added, fixing a look of grave questioning upon his face, “now that I find she is the ward of your wife, I cannot understand why I have not met her with the other members of your family.”
“Ahem! Well,” began Mr. Richards, with evident embarrassment, “she has been very deeply engaged with her studies ever since she came to us—is ambitious, you know, and also spends a great deal of her time practicing music, and my wife thought it would be best for her not to—to mingle in company much until she had—um!—completed her education;” and Mrs. Richards, sitting just outside that open window, where she had heard every word of the above conversation, thanked the fates that for once her husband had smoothed awkward things over for her quite comfortably.
Lord Carrol simply bowed in reply to this statement. It would not become him to question the truthfulness of what he had heard, but since his interview with Star, his opinion of the family had changed very materially.
“Well, I am nonplussed, and I reckon that this state of affairs will create quite a commotion when it becomes known,” Mr. Richards resumed, after a few minutes of thought, during which his surprise seemed to increase. “I never dreamed that our Star would ever step into such a chair of state, although she is of good blood, I believe.”
“Of the best,” Lord Carrol returned, decidedly. “She told me upon one occasion that her mother was a Miss Anna Chudleigh, of Chudleigh Manor, Devonshire. I know something of them, and they were a fine family, although I have been told that they were very much displeased at the marriage of their only daughter with a clergyman of limited means. But—have I your sanction to prosecute my suit with Miss Gladstone, and will you arrange an interview for me?”
“Certainly; I shall do what you wish, and I must say that I am glad that things are turning out so well for Star. I have been very fond of her, for she is a bright and winsome little body about the house. She is talented, too, to say nothing of her beauty, and she will make you a good wife. I congratulate you both, and there is my hand on it, my lord,” Mr. Richards concluded, heartily, and extending his hand to the young peer, which he took and cordially shook.
But Mrs. Richards, her heart filled with bitterest rage, felt as if she could have strangled her husband with a good relish for taking such an interest in Star’s prospects, while the gorgeous air-castle which his own daughter had built was tumbling to the ground about his ears.
Mr. Richards then rose.
“I suppose you are anxious to see Star at once?” he said.
“Yes, if you please. I desire to make my peace with her as soon as possible, for I know that she is deeply wounded, and I cannot rest until she knows the truth.”