“You don’t believe what I tell you, then,” her father said, frowning.
“Well, I think you must have overestimated her talent in that direction,” the girl answered.
Mr. Richards did not reply, but walked to the bell-rope and gave it a pull.
“Go and say to Miss Gladstone that I would like to see her in the drawing-room,” he said to the servant who opened the door.
“Really, Mr. Richards,” interrupted his wife, with severe dignity; but he stopped her short with a motion of his hand.
“Go!” he repeated to the servant, who had hesitated as she spoke, and then he turned again to her.
“I want you to understand,” he said, “something of the wrong which you have been doing this child, and now I am going to ask her to play to you. I desire that you treat her civilly, too, when she comes down. She should have been received here as one of us—I regret that I did not insist upon it in the beginning—she should have been on an equal footing with Josie, enjoying the same advantages, and receiving sympathy and encouragement instead of—well, it’s no use fretting over it now; but, by Jove! I’ll make it up to her in the future. Hark! she is coming, and now I’ll have no sneers or sour looks,” he concluded, as the door handle turned.
Star entered at this moment, and seeing the whole family assembled, looked somewhat surprised; but Mr. Richards approached her, saying, quietly:
“I have sent for you to ask if you will play again for us what you played at the hall to-day?”
Star glanced at the two ladies, but their attitude was not encouraging.