Stella Rosevelt — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

84 RETRENCHMENT. ‘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 lam eoing 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—lI regret that I did not insist upon — it in the beginning—she should have heen on an equal footing with Josie, enjoying the same advantages, and receiving sym- pathy and encouragement instead of—well, its 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']l 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 ap- proached her, saying, quietly : ‘‘T 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. Mrs. Richards was the personification of dipbified indiffer- ence, while Miss Josephine sat looking out of a window, and partially concealed by its drapery. She saw that she was wholly indebted to Mr. Richards for this opportunity of displaying her talent, and that they were evidently somewhat doubtful as to her ability to do what he claimed for her; therefore her fingers began to tingle to do their very best. ae k ; I shall be pleased to play ii you if you desire ” she said, as she walked quietly and unassumingly to ‘the ance and sat down. ; She had not struck a dozen notes before she had the un- Eomicbooks:¢o