Stella Rosevelt — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

A CONSULTATION. 75 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 ina 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. | At the end of twenty minutes she stopped before the door of a large and handsome store, where for a moment she seemed to hesitate as if uncertain what to do next. (CONMMIE NOKOL KS (Eo)