The house was full, but not crowded, because the people dispersed themselves through all the apartments.
Aunt Sophie only waited long enough to welcome the young minister and his bride, to wish them all happiness, and to show them into their chamber, where they might change their traveling suits for festive dresses before going down into the drawing-room to meet their friends, and then she took leave.
She would have persuaded Lilith to stay with the company, but the latter insisted on going with her friend.
“You know I ain’t young, honey, and gay and festive scenes don’t suit me,” she said, apologetically.
“And as for me, I wish to go with you, and to be with you as much as I can while I remain in the country,” Lilith answered, affectionately.
CHAPTER X
IN HER TRUE COLORS
Madame Von Bruyin grew very fond of Lilith and would have had her new favorite with her every day, or even had her to come and live at the hotel.
But Lilith pleaded that she wished to stay with her kind landlady as much as possible during the short interval that would intervene before their sailing for Europe.
The baroness admitted the excuse and did not insist on Lilith’s entering upon her duties of companionship before the stipulated time—June 1st.
But whenever Aunt Sophie was out on business, or very much occupied with her household duties, Lilith would slip away to pay a flying visit to the baroness, to whom she was now, at all hours, a most welcome guest.