"My name is Lestrange," said Stella. "I live at the Manor; I am one of the schoolgirls."
"Oh, of course, Miss Lestrange; I know you by appearance quite well. You often come to church. I was surprised to see you there this afternoon alone."
"Yes; I came out this afternoon alone. I am tired," said Star.
Quickly a thought flashed into Florence's brain; what a tremendous triumph it would be for her to bring this charming, aristocratic-looking young lady home to tea.
"I wonder now," she said, dropping her voice and suiting her pace to that of Star, "if you'd honor us, Miss--Miss Lestrange. We are having tea at home just now--high tea. And my brothers, Rufus and Jasper--they're such pleasant boys--they're always at home to tea on Sundays. You say you are tired. It's a good long walk back to the Manor; would you honor us by having a cup of tea with us?"
"I should be very much obliged," said Star.
At another time such a request would have horrified her, but it seemed to her now the only means to a desirable end.
"I am glad; mother will be so pleased," said Florence. "We all think a great deal of Miss Peacock and her wonderful school, Miss--Lestrange."
Florence always made a slight pause between "Miss" and "Lestrange," and at another time Star would have used her ventriloquist voice and have said just above Florence's startled ear, "A little faster, please;" but she was not in the mood to be funny at this moment, and walked in silence by her companion's side.
"I know I must get her to tell me just by guile," thought the little girl; "and it's so difficult, and it seems to get more difficult each minute."
Presently they reached the house. Florence pulled the bell, and the door was opened by a rough-looking, red-headed boy, who shouted when he saw Florence; and then, as he beheld Star's beautiful, refined little face, his own features subsided into a startled grin.
"I have brought home a young lady from the Manor," said Florence in her most affected and mincing way. "Are they all at tea, Rufus?"
"Of course we are, Flo. And mother's ever so cross, I can tell you. You had better take the lady upstairs."
"Well, perhaps," said Florence dubiously, looking at Star.
"Oh, please don't!" said Star; "I can't wait a minute. I can't really. I'll just have a cup of tea, as you were so very obliging as to ask me, and then perhaps afterwards you would walk a little of the way home with me."