CHAPTER XVI.
HATTIE’S RESOLVE.
Hattie Butler left the bindery at her usual hour, and pausing only long enough to buy an evening paper, as she always did on her way, after her increase of salary made her feel able to do so, she hurried to her boarding-house.
Now, the writer is not one who believes that woman is one half as full of curiosity as man is, but she will not deny that her heroine really did feel decidedly anxious to know the nature of the important business which her employer had told her would be revealed in the note which she was not to open until she reached home.
Hattie lost no time in reaching home, and as she had fully ten minutes to spare before the supper-bell would ring, she went up to her room to take off her bonnet and shawl, instead of leaving them on the hooks in the long hall, as she generally did.
On her way to her room Hattie met Little Jessie Albemarle, who ran to her and whispered:
“Miss Scrimp has been ever so good to me all day. I’ve got a cot-bed, and sheets, and a pillow in my room now, and I’m to have two new calico dresses in a day or two.”
“I’m very glad, dear,” said Hattie. “I hope your dark days are over, and that before long I shall have very, very good news for you. Now, run down to your work, dear—I’m going to my room a minute, but will be down to supper.”
And Jessie, full of a new happiness—it was so strange to be kindly treated even for a single day—ran down to her duties singing, while Hattie hurried to her room, lighted her lamp, and opened her note.
A look of wonder and of real perplexity gathered over and clouded her face as she read it a second time.
“I cannot, for my life, understand his meaning. What can the proposition be? He knows me too well to ever make any offer but one that the noblest-born woman in the world could accept. I am poor, but I am proud—not of beauty, not of education, but of a pure and spotless name, of an honor untarnished by an evil act or thought. He speaks kindly, seems to be very sincere, and is surely respectful. I will meet him, and in the parlor below, for I would blush to have any one see these poor surroundings, when they know I could afford better. I know it is against Miss Scrimp’s rules to admit gentleman visitors to see her boarders, but in this case she must permit the rule to be broken. I will tell her I must see a gentleman on important business. He is my employer, and it is my right to meet him here.”