She left home at a quarter to nine in the morning, and did not return until half-past four in the afternoon, taking a luncheon and spending the nooning in the school-room.
This was not done on account of the distance, but because the dinner hour at the Richards’ mansion conflicted with the school hours.
By staying at noon thus Star gained an hour’s practice on one of the pianos, with no one to interrupt her, and this was a season of unalloyed delight to her. Nothing had been said to her about continuing her music—Mrs. Richards had vetoed all accomplishments on account of the extra expense—but she could not give it up, so pursued a course of faithful practice by herself.
Not a moment was wasted. She arose with the dawn, and every morning for an hour she might have been seen bending over her small table, busily engaged in writing or study.
All her duties were faithfully performed; beds had never been so well made before, rooms were never so carefully swept and dusted, or so tastefully arranged; and yet one would scarcely have mistrusted her presence in the house, everything was done so quietly and unobtrusively.
This general exercise, together with her brisk walk before and after her school, was very beneficial to her health. She grew tall, and round, and rosy, and in beauty every day.
Saturdays Miss Baker’s weary face would brighten as Star sat and chatted in a merry, entertaining way, whiling away the long hours, her busy fingers often lightening her labors when there was no sewing to be done for herself, until she began to love the sweet young girl with a deep, warm affection, and to look forward to those weekly diversions almost as if they had been angels’ visits.
Star was very tasteful also, and often suggested changes in trimming and the arrangement of drapery, thus making great improvements in her work, while, in spite of Mrs. Richards’ commands that “everything for Miss Gladstone be as plain as respectability would allow,” she took pains to fit the young girl’s figure with great nicety, and added many graceful touches to her otherwise simple dresses.
All winter long Star pursued this busy life, improving every moment to the best advantage, making every hour count; and one morning, getting through her work earlier than usual, she might have been seen stealing forth from that elegant mansion a half hour before the regular time, her cheeks flushed with some inward excitement, her eyes gleaming, yet somewhat anxious, and carrying in her hands a goodly sized package neatly wrapped in brown paper.
She took an opposite direction from the usual route to school, and walked hurriedly toward the business portion of the city.