“Certainly; you may rely upon my being very discreet, for her sake,” Professor Roberts returned, somewhat stiffly.
He bowed his visitors out, and then returned to his duties; but all day long, and for many days, he missed the bright, earnest face of his “most promising scholar,” her brilliant recitations, and the respectful attention which she had always given him.
As for Mr. Richards and Lord Carrol, their way seemed suddenly hedged up; they did not know which way to turn next. They knew it would be very difficult to find any one in the great city of New York, and it was possible that the fugitives had left the metropolis, although Mr. Richards, knowing how ambitious Star was to complete her education, was inclined to think she would remain there until she had accomplished this end.
Still Lord Carrol was determined not to relinquish his search for her, and he neglected painting and everything else, riding from one end of the city to another day after day, unweariedly visiting schools on week days, and haunting churches on Sunday, until the day of his departure arrived; but all his efforts were unavailing and fruitless.
An advertisement was inserted in all the daily papers.
“Star, let me justify myself!” That was all; and Star, in her hiding-place, read it many times with curling lips and scornful eyes.
“There can be no justification,” she said; “one man bearing two names and deceiving two girls, can never be justified.”
But her heart ached none the less, for, with shame she owned it, she loved him still. The days seemed endless, her duties arduous and monotonous; she grew thin, her step lost its elasticity, and she was as miserable as even Josephine, in her most malicious mood, could have wished.
November came, and with it the day of Archibald Sherbrooke’s sailing for England.
No one ever returned to his native land with a sadder heart and deeper regret than the young Lord of Carrolton, and he would not have gone even then, but that some urgent business connected with his uncle’s estate, and his duties as his heir, imperatively demanded it. He would have much preferred to remain and search for the fair girl whom he loved so devotedly.