Hildegarde's Holiday: A Story for Girls

Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume, $1.75
The above eleven volumes boxed as a set, $19.25
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY 53 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.

'DO TELL US ABOUT HER, PLEASE!'
Copyright, 1891 By Estes and Lauriat Made in U. S. A. THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. SIMONDS CO., BOSTON, U. S. A.

In a small waiting-room at Blank Hospital a girl was walking up and down, with quick, impatient steps. Every few minutes she stopped to listen; then, hearing no sound, she resumed her walk, with hands clasped and lips set firmly together. She was evidently in a state of high nervous excitement, for the pupils of her eyes were so dilated that they flashed black as night instead of gray; and a bright red spot burned in either cheek. In the corner, in an attitude of anxious dejection, sat a small dog. He had tried fol lowing his mistress at first, when she began her walk, and finding that the promenade took them nowhere and was very monotonous, had tried to vary the monotony by worrying her heels in a playful manner; whereupon he had been severely reprimanded, and sent into the corner, from which he dared not emerge. He was trying, with his usual lack of success, to fathom the motives which prompted human beings to such strange and undoglike actions, when suddenly a door opened, and a lady and gentleman came in. The girl sprang forward. Mamma! she cried. Doctor!
It is all right, my dear, said the doctor, quickly; while the lady, whose name was Mrs. Grahame, took the girl in her arms quietly, and kissed her. It is all right; everything has gone perfectly, and in a few days your lovely friend will be better than she has ever been since she was a baby.
Hildegarde Grahame sat down, and leaning her head on her mother's shoulder, burst into tears.
Exactly! said the good doctor. The best thing you could do, my child! Do you want to hear the rest now, or shall I leave it for your mother to tell?
Let her hear it all from you, Doctor, said Mrs. Grahame. It will do her more good than anything else.