With these words, Miss Fernly fairly flew from the cottage.
Ida May sunk back in her chair, pale and excited.
"Why should the announcement that he is to be married to-morrow have shocked me?" she moaned. "I had every reason to expect that would occur any day after I read it myself in the paper."
She did not sob or cry out. It seemed to Ida that the very heart within her was crushed. She had borne so much that it appeared there was nothing more left for her to endure.
Miss Fernly was thankful beyond words that she had not brought her maid with her on her last visit.
In all possible haste she hurried to the magnificent home of her sister on Riverside Drive.
Although living in the same city, the married sister saw very little of Miss Fernly, the latter devoted so much of her time to charity. She had not been to the house but once since Mrs. Cramer had written to her of her daughter Hildegarde, and that she was soon to be married.
Hildegarde was delighted when she looked out and saw her aunt drive up.
"What a surprise, dear aunt!" she cried, throwing her white arms about her. "Mamma and I were just speaking of you. I was almost afraid that you had forgotten the date set for the wedding. And just to think you have never met my intended, and he so anxious to see the darling aunt I have always been talking of! I want you to see him, he is so lovely. But what did you think of the picture?" rattled on Hildegarde, in her gay, girlish fashion, without giving the other a chance to answer.
"You are very, very much in love with him?" asked Miss Fernly, anxiously.