Time would bring its own punishment to her faithless lover, she believed, and she had no desire that any one should act as her champion in this matter. She had called him “Archibald Sherbrooke” purposely, for she felt assured that if, by any chance, Ralph Meredith should yet meet him, he would not recognize in Lord Carrol the man of whom she had told him. CHAPTER XXXI. A NOBLE RESOLUTION. “You will remember that you have promised that I am still to be your friend; you will not avoid me and deny me the pleasure of your society because of what I have told you to-night?” Ralph pleaded, as he and Star drew near the entrance of the park, and knew that they would soon be rejoined by his sister and Mr. Rosevelt. Star looked up at him with a grave face. “You shall still be my friend. I will not avoid you if you will promise me that you will build no false hopes upon our friendship,” she said. “How can I, when you tell me that there is no hope?” he asked, yet his voice trembled and was full of pain. “May I continue to visit you when you return to New York?” he resumed, after a moment. “Certainly, as one friend would visit another. You have made my stay here very pleasant, and I should be very sorry not to see you occasionally, while Grace has become almost like a sister to me.” The young man thanked her with glistening eyes, and with a pang at his heart, as he thought how fondly he had hoped to make the two girls sisters, and how rudely his bright dream had been broken. Then they passed out at the gate, where they found Mr. Rosevelt and Grace awaiting them. Both saw at a glance that the interview had been a sorrowful one, and Miss Meredith was bitterly disappointed, for she had trusted that Ralph would be able to win the bright, beautiful girl for his wife. Mr. Rosevelt surmised the cause of Star’s rejection of his suit, and sighed heavily, for the young man had been a favorite with him, and he would have been glad to give her to him. But he would never try to influence her upon matters of such a delicate nature. She should always do exactly as she liked, and he knew that whoever her choice might be, it would never be an unworthy one. They parted at the door of the hotel, Ralph bidding them good-by there, as he was to leave early in the morning, and Star knew by the way he wrung her hand that he was bidding farewell to hope as well. When they reached their private parlor, she went directly to Mr. Rosevelt’s side and laid her hand upon his arm. Her face was flushed and sad, and he saw at once that she was very unhappy. “What is it, my starling?” he asked, taking her hand in both of his, and speaking very tenderly. “Uncle Jacob, I want to go home,” she said, wearily. “Bless you, child! you shall go wherever you like,” he said, in surprise, and regarding her anxiously.