“Thank you. Then you do not feel aggrieved over the ruse I played upon you?” replied Mr. Rosevelt, regarding him searchingly.
“Not at all; it was no more than right that you should wish to know who was worthy to be your heir,” but he sighed heavily as he spoke, as he remembered how unworthy his wife had proved herself to be.
“How goes the world with you?” Mr. Rosevelt asked, and noticing the return of the care-worn look to Mr. Richards’ face.
“Rather discouragingly just now. I have met with some pretty heavy losses lately; don’t know whether I shall be able to pull through all right or not. A couple of weeks will tell the story, however.”
He spoke in a desperate tone, and there was a look in his eyes that made Star shudder and involuntarily draw closer to Mr. Rosevelt.
“You don’t mean that you are in danger of going under?” he said, in surprise, and remembering how his wife and daughter had flourished at Newport.
“Just that,” Mr. Richards returned, nervously; “but if it was not for the horror I have of debt, and the thought that others must suffer through me, I would gladly lay down my arms and give up the battle; I am tired to death of this endless struggle to keep up appearances. But,” he added, trying to speak more cheerfully, “I won’t bore you with my troubles. How well you are both looking; and Star—they tell me you are the author of ‘Chatsworth’s Pride.’ I declare I was never prouder of anything in my life when I heard it. I always knew you’d make your mark in the world.”
Star colored. She was a trifle sensitive regarding compliments of this kind, and never talked about her book if she could help it, except with those whom she was sure were her true friends.
But she thanked him gracefully, and then turned the conversation to some other topic, while all the time she was wondering if there was not something that she could do to help or comfort him in his trouble.
“Now that I have found you,” he said, later, “tell me where you live and I will come to see you. I will not invite you to Brooklyn,” he continued, with a frown, “for I know you could not come there with any comfort, though I should be glad enough to see you there.”