“It eluded ours, and Archie was puzzled, although he had seen it.”
“It cannot be seen except at the moment that someone is raising or lowering the lid,” remarked Hilda, experimenting, “and then only by an observing person who was standing where a side view of the desk could be had, as did Archie. When the desk is closed it conceals the false floor; when it is open it conceals the real one.”
“But you and I are as intelligent as most persons,” said Mrs. Merryman, reflectively. “How is it that we could not find out the secret of that desk as did Jerusha Flint? She said in her letter that she had used the pen, and yet we find it with her letter in the secret nook. Who told her how to find it?”
“The information must have been in the letter she destroyed. She feared it would fall in other hands.”
“Yes, I am sure you are right,” answered Mrs. Merryman.
“It is no wonder that she longed to see me,” continued Hilda. “I wish for her sake that I had reached here in time to listen to all she wished to say.”
They arose, locked the desk and the cottage door, and, followed by Archie with the basket, went home, Hilda carrying the package which had been kept so long from its rightful owner.
Since her return to Dorton she had gone several times to the village churchyard to visit the grave of her Aunt Ashley—on which Mrs. Warfield had long before ordered to be placed a handsome memorial stone—and never left it without evincing her forgiveness by pausing at that of Jerusha Flint.
The wish had been in her heart to mark that lowly mound by a headstone, however small and plain—a greater longing than she had ever felt for any acquisition for herself. Now the way was opened, and the next day she made it part of her errand to the city to visit the marble yard where Mrs. Warfield’s order had been faithfully executed, and order one of snow-white marble bearing only the carved words—“Jerusha Flint.”
Invitations to the wedding reception at “My Lady’s Manor” were sent to the four members of the Warfield family, but Mrs. Warfield and Fred sent a courteous regret, promising to visit Hilda at some future time.