The passage at arms had aided him, as it had Hilda, to define his feelings. He realized that he loved her, and this time, if never before, was in earnest. It was his intention to offer a humble apology, and to ask a place in her esteem with the eloquence of which he was master, and he did not believe that she would refuse.
His hopes received a blow when he came home and found her gone, and no time specified for her return. He could have shed tears in the bitterness of his soul, and Mrs. Paul Warfield, who suspected how matters stood, shook her shrewd head and agreed with herself that it served him right.
After sending the valentine he hoped to hear a word from Hilda, but in her letter to his mother no special mention was made of him, so he wrote to her imploring her to believe him sincere in his profession of affection for her, and asked for a line bidding him hope. Perry brought the missive from the village post-office and Norah took it to the parlor where Hilda and Mr. Courtney were conversing by the early evening fire-light.
Hilda, with a deep blush, opened and read it and passed it to Mr. Courtney.
“I hope you don’t think I expect this of you,” he said gently. “Believe me, I have not a particle of jealous curiosity.”
“No, sir; I gave it because I wish your advice in regard to answering it, and you could not give it unless you understood the whole affair. Aunt Sarah has also written to me, and says that Fred deplores his mistake and she hopes I will reconsider the matter, for she knows him to be sincere and pities him.”
“It would be well to answer both letters immediately,” remarked Mr. Courtney when he finished the perusal of Fred’s letter. “It is far kinder to tell them the relation in which we stand to each other than to allow them to indulge a false hope.”
“I do not mind telling Fred,” replied Hilda, a flush very like anger coming into her face, “but I do feel sorry to grieve Aunt Sarah. She is as kind to me as an own mother, and I love her so dearly.”
“I know it, but it will not be the task to write it that it would be to tell them were you there. I should write at once to both.”
“I will do as you advise. I can see that it is the kinder way.”