“Miss Gladstone,” she answered, pointing to the name on the programme.
“How lovely she is, in that simple lace bunting, trimmed with its knots of blue ribbon, and those blush-roses in her belt!”
“So I think,” the teacher replied, with an affectionate glance at Star. “She has only been with us a year, however. She was hardly up to the mark when she entered the class, although she came highly recommended by Professor Roberts, of Brooklyn. Our standard, you know, is very high. But she was anxious to enter the senior class, and assured us that she would not drag, and said she was particularly anxious to graduate this year.”
“And she has done well, I am sure,” the visitor said, bending another admiring glance upon the fair graduate.
“She has been one of the most brilliant scholars of the class. Her recitations have been wonderful. I do not think she has made a single failure during the entire year. If she had been with us throughout the course, she must have taken the valedictory; but she has acquitted herself grandly in the French essay, which she composed and translated herself.”
“She has, indeed. I never heard purer French spoken, even in Paris. Does she live in the city?”
“I believe so, although I do not know where. She comes and goes very quietly, and her clothing indicates that her friends, whoever they may be, are in limited circumstances. She appears to have no intimates, and yet she is a favorite with all. There must be some sorrowful story connected with her life, I think, for there is a haunting sadness in her eyes whenever they meet yours, except when she smiles or becomes animated in conversation; then she is charming.”
“I should like to know her,” said the first speaker, musingly; but President Hunter here arose to distribute the diplomas, and she gave her attention to his remarks, although her glance frequently sought the lovely face which had so attracted her attention.
The subject of the above conversation, although unconscious of it, was none the less worthy of it.
After leaving Jacob Rosevelt on the night of her exciting interview with Mrs. Richards, she sped swiftly back to her room, where she gathered together a few articles of clothing and packed them into a small valise; her school-books also, with her portfolio and the small box which had so aroused Josephine’s curiosity that day when she went to steal Star’s lovely cameo.