The gentleman chatted a few moments longer with her, then put out his hand for the roll of manuscript which she still held, while he smilingly asked her for it.
Star hesitated about giving it to him, while a lovely color suffused her face; then, with a shy movement, she laid it in his palm.
He received it with a brilliant smile, bowed gracefully to her, and then left her.
Mr. Richards now approached her, and taking her hand, said, almost affectionately:
“Star, you have shone effulgently to-day, and I am proud of you.”
It would not have been in human nature to have prevented the little gleam of triumph which flashed from her eyes at this tribute to her talents, but she said, gratefully:
“Thank you, sir; but I owe my success all to you.”
“Not a bit of it,” he returned, with some emotion; “you owe it to yourself alone; but I will take care that you do not thank me for nothing at the close of another year.”
Star wondered what he meant, but she did not question him, and her heart was lighter than it had been before, since she crossed the ocean, as he led her from the building and walked home with her.
But he noticed all the way that there was a nervous tremor about her, while she was unusually absent-minded and silent.