“My dear,” he said, though somewhat sadly, she thought, “you did not suppose I was going to allow you to assume the burden of my whole support, did you? I never should have consented to come away with you in that case. I am not quite penniless, and what I can afford to pay toward our support will at least relieve you of all necessity of laboring as a household drudge.”
They were as cozy as they could well be with their simple yet home-like little parlor, and two bedrooms leading out of it, and with their meals served to them there, it was very much like a home of their own.
“It is just as nice as can be, and I am happy as a queen,” Star declared, over and over again; but he often looked troubled when he saw how thin her cheeks were growing, noticed her oft-repeated but quickly suppressed sighs, and that “haunting sadness” in her eyes.
They lived in a very quiet way, never going out except for a quiet walk or to the little church near by on Sunday, and never met or heard anything of Mr. Richards or his family.
Star had read that advertisement relating to herself, and it had caused her bitter pain, for it brought all her suffering so freshly to her mind; but she had not the least faith that Lord Carrol could say anything which could justify himself in her mind. She felt that he only desired to cheat her still further with honeyed words, and so paid no heed to it.
Mr. Rosevelt also saw it, and wondered if she had read it; but she gave no sign, and he never mentioned that name to her; it was a topic which they avoided by tacit consent.
Once during the year, when speaking of what she should do as soon as she graduated, she said that she had decided to apply for a situation as teacher in the city; she had concluded to remain in America instead of returning to England, as she had at first planned to do.
He did not ask her why; he understood what she meant—she wished the sea to roll between her and the man who had so ruined her life; and perhaps, he thought, with a very tender feeling in his heart, she wanted to stay with him.
Thus the year sped round, and brought with its revolution another commencement day for Star.
“Uncle Jacob, you are coming to-day to see me graduate, are you not?” she asked that morning, as she poured his coffee for him, and looking up into his face with more eagerness than he had seen her manifest since her trouble.