Stella Rosevelt — page 260: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

254 _ WHAT NEXT? to make you so comfortable, and that, with teaching and the in- come from my book, we could have such nice times together,” Star said, wistfully, and hardly able, even yet, to comprehend the change in her circumstances. Mr. Rosevelt patted her softly on the shoulder, though a tear sprang to his eyes at her words. ‘“No, dear,” he returned; ‘‘you cannot take care of me in that way. Iam going to take care of you; but you can still make meso comfortable. Wecan still have nice times together, and I shall be very proud to introduce the young authoress of ‘Chatsworth’s Pride’ as my ward and future heiress. ‘Bless you, child!” he continued, his fine face glowing with happiness; ‘‘don't you suppose it is going to be a comfort to me to try to make you happy and give you everything you wish, after all your constancy, patience, and self-denial for me? Dont you suppose I enjoyed fitting up this house for you after my tenant gave it up, Some six months ago? And don’t you be- lieve, too, that Mrs. Blunt was glad to come and be housekeeper for us?” and he turned kindly to the woman, who had been standing in the background during these explanations. ‘“You may be sure I’m much mistaken if I wasn't,” she returned, eagerly, her eyes gleaming with delight, and her gratitude for the position shining through her homely but good- natured face. ‘And I am very glad, too. It is the nicest arrangement in the world,” Star said, heartily; ‘‘and just to think,’ glancing around the elegant apartment with a sigh of supreme content, ‘that I am to be surrounded with all this beauty! Itislikea fairy tale, or a dream of enchantment.” ‘«T gold you I had the best mistress in the world,” Mrs. Blunt said, chuckling; ‘‘but we didn’t imagine anything like this, Miss Star, that Sunday when we were stoning raisins and stem- ming currants,” Z — Gomi1ebooks: co