Grace Meredith and her brother presented a pair of elegant ear-ornaments to match; Lady Sherbrooke a necklace and tiara of pearls, and—time would fail me were I to enumerate all the costly gifts which were showered upon this lovely bride. There were six bride-maids, and as many “best men.” Jacob Rosevelt gave Star away to the man whom he believed to be worthy of her in every respect, and felt as if he were indeed giving up his own and only child, although she had told him she could never consent to be separated from him.
They were to spend a couple of months at Carrolton, Lord Carrol’s country seat, whither upholsterers and decorators had been sent, as soon as the wedding had been decided upon, to make everything fresh and attractive for them.
Of course Mrs. Blunt, that much “mistaken” but honest and affectionate creature, was indispensable at this time, and she was made about as happy as it is possible for a mortal to be in this life by Star’s assurance that she should be a fixture in her household as long as she should live.
After the two months at Carrolton they were to go to Halowell Park for a season, and take a look at the home of the Thorntons.
There was to be no stereotyped tour. Star said she had traveled enough for the present, and would much prefer to settle down to quiet home life—perhaps by another year they might feel like making a trip to the Continent.
Lady Sherbrooke had already grown to love her new daughter very dearly.
“It is well that I do love her,” she said, tearfully, to Vivien, when the grand wedding was over, the guests all gone, and they were left by themselves, “if I must lose you, as I expect to, before very long; but if I had searched the world over I could not have found a fairer, sweeter wife for my son. Heaven bless our Star! She bids fair to prove a guiding light in Archie’s home.”
CHAPTER XLIV.
FAITH’S TRIUMPH.
“Star!”
“Yes, Uncle Jacob.”