Not being sure what the asterisks stand for and the 19th century novels reference remind me of this passage in Wuthering Heights -
What on earth does the dash stand for, I wonder. Surely even Heathcliff wouldn't be calling his own daughter-in-law a bitc h?‘And you, you worthless—’ he broke out as I entered, turning to his daughter-in-law, and employing an epithet as harmless as duck, or sheep, but generally represented by a dash. ‘There you are, at your idle tricks again! The rest of them do earn their bread—you live on my charity! Put your trash away, and find something to do. You shall pay me for the plague of having you eternally in my sight—do you hear, damnable jade?’