She knew that he meant she would find suitors for her hand; but she could not forget her first love, and she knew that she should never meet another who would win the place in her heart which she had given to Archibald Sherbrooke, unworthy as she believed him to be of it. That evening Miss Meredith and her brother called. “How fortunate that you came to-night,” Star said to the young lady during their conversation. “You would have missed us if you had waited longer, for to-morrow we go to Newport for a few weeks.” “Do you? That is delightful, for we have our rooms engaged there also for next week, and intend to remain a month,” Miss Meredith returned, with evident pleasure, while Mr. Ralph Meredith, who was conversing with Mr. Rosevelt, but with one ear open toward the young ladies, felt a sudden heart-throb at the intelligence. “Newport is very gay this summer, I am told,” Miss Meredith continued. “‘Everybody,’ so to speak, is there, and it is one of the most charming places in the world to visit. Have you ever been there, Miss Gladstone?” “No,” Star answered. “I have been so busy with my studies ever since I came to this country, that I have not been anywhere.” “Since you came to this country!” Grace Meredith repeated. “Are you not an American?” “No; I am an English girl, and it will be two years in November since I left merrie England.” “Are you some lady of high degree, come here to get your education? I am almost inclined to think so,” laughed her friend, bending an admiring glance upon Star’s beautiful face. “No, indeed. Don’t go to weaving any romances about me,” she answered, flushing slightly, “for I am only plain Star Gladstone.” “But ‘plain Star Gladstone’ belongs to a very good family, nevertheless,” interrupted Mr. Rosevelt, who had overheard the latter part of their conversation, and would not allow Star to depreciate herself; whereupon Miss Meredith did feel at liberty to “romance” a little on her own account. Star was asked for some music, and delighted her listeners with her exquisite playing. Miss Meredith and her brother sang a charming duet, and after an hour spent in the most social manner, they took their departure, having formed numerous plans to be carried into execution when they should meet a week later at Newport. “Miss Gladstone is the loveliest girl I have ever met, and you wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise with her, Grace,” Ralph Meredith said, in a grieved tone, after they left the house. “Are you ‘star’-struck so soon, brother mine? You’ll have opportunities enough to ‘get your words in’ widthways during the next few weeks, and you can comfort yourself for your disappointment to-night with the thought that I was paving the way to glory for you,” laughed his sister. “Were you not surprised to learn that she is English?” she asked, thoughtfully. “Yes, rather; for I have been told that English girls are not very pretty; but she is wonderfully beautiful.”