third story, “and I will bring you a change of Miss Josephine’s. They will be a trifle too large, but never mind so that you’re comfortable.”

She sped away, and as Star removed her hat and shawl she looked about her.

The room was very scantily furnished, but it was clean, and as there was only a single bed in it, she knew she was to have it to herself—a point which she congratulated herself upon, as 50it would have been very obnoxious to her to room with one of the servants.

50

Mrs. Blunt soon returned, bringing clean, fresh garments, and Star felt that she had never realized before how great a luxury cleanliness was.

“You can go to the bath-room at the end of the hall,” she said, laying them over Star’s arm. “I have fixed the tub for you, lining it with a clean sheet, so that you need not feel shy about using it. I know you’ll feel a great deal better after it; then I’ll come to you again in a half or three-quarters of an hour, and take you to Miss Baker; and—I forgot—here’s a comb I’ve never used.”

Star felt very grateful to the kind-hearted creature, and made the most of her opportunity.

She had a refreshing bath, then combed out her luxuriant hair, re-arranging it as nicely and carefully as she had been taught to do in her own home, and when all was done she looked as bright and felt as fresh as a new creature.

When Mrs. Blunt returned at the end of an hour, her plain face relaxed into a smile, though Star had thought that smiles were at a discount with her as a general thing.

“Well, you do look nice, or I’m much mistaken; and those hands!—they’re much too fine and nice, in my opinion, for drudgery;” and the woman glanced admiringly at those small members, of which, to be truthful, Star was a little proud.

“Well, I am ready to go to Miss Baker,” she said, with a little sigh. “It is evident that I shall not be in a condition to do any kind of work, or drudgery, as you call it, until I am properly clad.”

“She’s true blue, and it’s an abomination to make a servant of her,” muttered the housekeeper, as she led the way to the sewing-room.

Miss Baker was in the midst of fitting a party-dress for Miss 51Josephine—a rather fine-looking girl, with black eyes and hair, a brilliant color, and a full, graceful figure.

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