“Your irony is ill-timed, it appears to me, Uncle Jacob,” she said, sullenly, “especially as you are indebted to me for the bare necessaries of life, not to speak of its comforts.”
“Indebted to you, am I, Ellen? I do not believe in recriminations, but allow me to ask, do you know the cost of those diamonds which you have on, and have you forgotten where you got them?”
Mrs. Richards’ brilliant color forsook her in an instant, and she became as white as the mass of snowy lace which rose and fell with the angry pulsation of her heart.
Her passionate temper prompted her to tear those flashing stones from her person and cast them in the face of her accuser; but her pride and avarice were the strongest attributes of her nature, and knowing that she would not be likely to have them replaced, she refrained from so rash an act.
“I do not begrudge you your jewels, Ellen,” Mr. Rosevelt continued, more gently, perceiving how keenly she felt his reproof, “but when you twit me of being indebted to you for the simple necessaries of life, it is rather more than I can tamely submit to. I was fond of making presents in the days that are gone, and I felt repaid for my diamonds by the joy that lighted up your face when I gave them to you; but I confess it is a little hard to be considered a burden by you now, while I am deeply grieved to have Star’s young life made so unhappy.”
“I tell you you do not know the girl; she is as artful as she can be, and I can prove it to you,” Mrs. Richards exclaimed, glad to have the subject changed, for she was considerably conscience smitten over the diamonds.
“I do not think you can prove anything of the kind, Ellen,” Mr. Rosevelt returned, quietly.
“Listen, then,” she retorted, eagerly, “and I will tell you how to-night I have discovered her to be guilty of the most shameless conduct.”
Star started and flushed at the accusation. She had not a suspicion that her secret had been discovered.
“It seems,” continued Mrs. Richards, “that while going back and forth, to and from school this fall, she has been flirting in the most desperate manner with a young man—a perfect stranger to her, and one so far above her socially that it was rankest presumption in her to do as she has done. She has even entrapped him into—or rather, I should say, she has misconstrued his conversation with her to mean a declaration of love for her, and now that he has found her out and turns with disgust from her artful designing, she has shamelessly taxed him with unfaithfulness and treachery.”