Star’s lips parted again, as if about to utter an indignant protest to this statement; but, with a wave of her white hand, Mrs. Richards coolly dismissed the subject and turned again to Mrs. Blunt.
“I suppose everything belonging to her was lost,” she said.
“Yes, madam; the poor child has nothing in the world save what she has on,” that woman answered, with a compassionate glance at Star.
“That is awkward; but you can take her to the sewing-room and tell Miss Baker to measure her for a couple of dresses; tell her to make them from that piece of print that I purchased yesterday. Can you sew, Stella?” she asked, turning again to the young girl, whom she had not even invited to be seated.
“Yes’m; mamma taught me to sew when I was quite young, and I have attended to my own wardrobe, with the aid of a seamstress, ever since she died.”
“That is well. You can then assist Miss Baker about your dresses, and when they are completed I will arrange about your other duties. You can go now. Mrs. Blunt will show you the way to your room, where you can lay aside your shawl and hat and then go to the sewing-room.”
Star gave the woman a stare of blank astonishment.
She had been most delicately and tenderly reared; her education had been carefully superintended by her father, and the constant companionship of her refined and intellectual mother had made her a little lady in every sense of the word. She had been taught to be kind and courteous to every one; to sympathize with people in trouble; to rejoice with them in prosperity; and now this woman—this cousin to her mother—this human being, whom she knew her mother once saved from a dreadful death—had received her, after her long and perilous voyage, her suffering and hardships, in this unfeeling, indifferent way.
She had not even taken her hand at greeting; she had looked her over and inspected her with a critical stare, as if she were some beast of burden that she was buying to toil for her. She had not offered her the commonest hospitalities of her house, or given her one kind word or look.
She had instead simply, and in the coolest manner possible, commented on her marvelous escape from death, and then insulted her by speaking disparagingly of her parents; and now she had dismissed her from her presence as if she had been a menial, ordered two print dresses made for her, without a thought apparently of other clothing so necessary to her after being so long without a change of any kind.