“I suppose it is yourself that gets plenty of valentines, Miss Hilda,” remarked Mrs. MacQuoid respectfully, gazing with admiration upon the fair girl.
“No, Mrs. MacQuoid, there is no prospect of my getting many,” smiled Hilda.
“Archie wishes that he could bring one,” said the old man. “He would find one in the snow if he could.”
“Thank you, Archie, I am sure you would bring me a valentine if you could find one,” and nodding a cheery good-bye, Hilda ran down the steps of the porch and in a little while reached “Fair Meadow.”
“Miss Hilda,” said Norah, “Mr. Merryman had a message from his sister in Baltimore, saying that relatives from Boston on their way south for the winter are there to remain over night, and she would like Mr. and Mrs. Merryman to come there for supper, and they have gone.”
“Very well, Norah; then you will please bring in the tea while I run up to my room to lay aside my wraps.”
Hilda had worn a crimson cashmere dress to the village, a costume very becoming to her fair face; and, adjusting the soft lace about throat and wrists, she put on a filmy white apron with a pocket to accommodate the ball of some fleecy white knitting, and with it in her hand descended to the tea-room, which was very bright and cheery in the lamp and fire-light.
Hilda’s brisk walk in the crisp air had made the simple meal very enjoyable, and as soon as Norah had again put the center-table in order, Hilda drew it closer to the hearth and was soon absorbed in her book. Nothing disturbed the stillness of the room save the singing of the hickory wood blazing in the open grate, or the purring of the kitten upon the hearth.
At the same hour the household of “My Lady’s Manor” was agreeably surprised at the unexpected arrival of Mr. Courtney; and his welcome home, so far as they were concerned, was all that could be desired.
But during his voyage across the Atlantic, and every reflective moment since, he had pictured a fair girlish face that he longed to see brighten at his coming, and had felt the clasp of a dimpled hand that was dearer to him than all else upon the broad earth.