“A lady?” ejaculated Mr. Courtney, in surprise, and, stepping to the stair-way, he glanced down.
The little lady in black, of whom he had so often heard, stood at the foot, with bowed head and folded hands, but before Mr. Courtney could address her, she disappeared.
When they descended to the attic, Mr. Courtney, without commenting upon the subject, glanced into the rooms, but not a living creature was to be seen, nor in the rooms below it; the house was silent save for their footfalls.
“This mystery shall be explained, if possible, and that at the earliest moment,” he said to himself as he locked the hall door upon their exit, and if Hilda noticed that he was silent on their walk back to “Friedenheim” she made no comment.
Mr. Courtney joined the Rev. Carl, Mrs. Courtney and Mrs. Merryman upon the piazza, while Hilda and Erma, attracted by the cheerful appearance of the kitchen, halted at the door.
“Come right in, honey,” cried Uncle Andy, heartily. “We is mighty glad to see yer; we has no little chillen no mo’, an’ ’pears like we can nebber git used ter doin’ widout ’em.”
“Where have they gone?” asked Hilda as, holding Erma’s hand, she stepped in.
“Roy an’ Cecil has done mos’ growed up, an’ de little gal hab gone to heaven whar ol’ Andy will go in de heavenly Master’s own good time. Ol’ Andy will soon go, honey.”
Hilda longed to send a message by him to her father and mother and her Uncle and Aunt Ashley, but had not courage to go near enough to him to whisper her request. Her indecision brought the delicate bloom to her cheek, which always appeared under any little excitement, and which awakened anew the admiration of Chloe.
“She is as pretty as a picture; that is just the truth,” she remarked to Kitty.