Star assented, thinking if the trip would give him pleasure she would not say “nay.” She only longed to get away from Newport; it would be a change, and a spirit of unrest had suddenly possessed her.
So it was arranged that they should leave the gay resort the next day but one.
“And, Uncle Jacob,” Star pleaded, as they were about to retire for the night, “let us not say much about it until to-morrow; let us get away as quietly as possible.”
“Very well; we will leave the announcement of our departure as long as we can, without appearing to run away,” he answered, understanding her motive.
The next morning Star sought Miss Meredith, and confessed, with many tears, her rejection of her brother.
“I knew he would tell you,” she said, “but I cannot bear that you should blame me, Grace. I have not meant to wrong your brother, and I would give much to make him as happy and free from pain as he was before he knew me. Do not take your friendship from me on account of it, for I need it more than I ever did before.”
And Grace Meredith, not knowing all, kissed her tenderly, while she thought in her heart, “Perhaps I can help to win her for Ralph even yet, if I am patient.”
“Do not grieve,” she said, gently. “I know you have intended no wrong. You cannot help being beautiful and attractive; you cannot help it if people will love you. I do not blame you, dear, in the least, and I am sure I should not think of breaking our friendship, which has been so exceedingly pleasant. Ralph did tell me something of this last night, and of course I am sorry for him, for he is a very dear brother, and a noble fellow, too; but these affairs of the heart, you know,” she concluded, smiling and flushing, for she knew something about it herself, “are entirely beyond our control.”
“Thank you, Grace,” Star said, gratefully, although the trouble did not fade out of her azure eyes; “you have lightened my burden considerably. It would have been more than I could bear to make an enemy of you.”
“An enemy, you dear little goose!” Grace cried. “Do you suppose I would be so foolish as to wish to drive you to marry my brother if you could not love him? I love you both too well for that; and now don’t let me hear anything more about broken friendships, unless I do something to forfeit your respect, for it would cause me great sorrow to have anything mar our intimacy.”