“But you done forget about the manners, Uncle Andy,” said Chloe flippantly.
“Oh, yes! When I done led Selim to de block an’ would pat de proud-sperited creetur ’till mistus mounted into de saddle, an’ took the bridle, an’ was startin’ away, she allus said, ‘Thanky, Andy!’ She nebber disremembered dat, nebber.”
“Yes, and Mis’ Emma is just as polite as her mother and grandmother,” said Kitty, proudly, “they was born ladies and couldn’t be anything else.”
It came time for Mrs. Merryman to go. Hilda and Erma were summoned. Mrs. Courtney and her brother Valentine accompanied them across the meadow to their home, and their conversation on the return walk was of “My Lady’s Manor,” now bathed in the splendor of the moonlight.
CHAPTER VII—HILDA’S WELCOME TO MY LADY’S MANOR
A week passed and one evening Mr. Courtney came out on the train to remain over night at “Friedenheim,” and with him were Ralph and James Rivers.
He had something in contemplation which he wished to impart to the Rev. Carl and Mrs. Courtney, and when supper was finished and they returned to the library he mentioned what he thought they might consider a foolish experiment.
“Brother Carl and Sister Emma, I am thinking of housekeeping. What is your opinion of it?” he asked.
“Do you mean at ‘My Lady’s Manor’?” asked Mrs. Courtney. “I think it would be charming thus having you for a neighbor; it would be next best to having you at ‘Friedenheim’.”
“I, too, am pleased,” said Rev. Carl. “Are you really in earnest?”