He took it almost reverentially.
"How d'ye do, Frank? and how is your mother to-day?" she was saying, her bright eyes looking straight into his.
"Better, thank you, Miss Mildred. And you are well? and oh, can it be true that you are all going so far away?" he asked with a wistful, longing look.
"Yes; to the land of the Hoosiers, wild Indians and wolves," she said gayly. "Don't you envy me?"
"I envy those that go with you," he answered, sighing. "You won't forget old friends, Miss Mildred?"
"No; no, indeed, Frank," she said, heartily. "But good-bye. I must hurry home," and with a nod and smile she tripped away; to the satisfaction of Hall who had jealously watched the whole interview.
He was glad it had been no longer, though he could not avoid the unpleasant consciousness that more favor had been shown to "that pauper" than to himself, the prospective heir to a comfortable fortune.
