“He is young, handsome, cultured, well educated and agreeable,” thought Mr. Courtney. “There is every reason for Hilda to become attached to him now that they will be under the same roof.”
Obeying the request of Mrs. Courtney, and her own inclination, Hilda selected the most perfect of the pictures of herself to give to Mr. Courtney, and had gone to her room early in the evening and had brought it down to the parlor to have it in readiness to give when he arose to leave.
It was given and accepted, farewells were said, and the Courtneys went to their homes; then Hilda, who had borne herself bravely during the evening, bade Mr. and Mrs. Merryman and Paul good-night and went to her room, and from the window looked with tear-dimmed eyes upon “My Lady’s Manor.”
She watched the light gleaming in the library where she knew that Mr. Courtney was sitting alone, and when at a late hour it disappeared she retired and wept until slumber closed her eyes.
The next morning was bright and beautiful, and, refreshed by sleep, and possessing the hope and buoyancy of youth when not crushed out by affliction or cruelty, Hilda arose and dressed for her journey in the pretty new traveling dress, which, with hat and gloves, she had placed in readiness before retiring.
Descending to breakfast, the first object that met her gaze was a bouquet of roses which she knew at a glance had come from Mr. Courtney. She had been accustomed to seeing flowers all her life, but these seemed the sweetest and loveliest she had ever known. She examined each bud and blossom, and admired anew the donor’s name and compliments upon the card.
Tears were in Mrs. Merryman’s eyes, and tender-hearted Norah wept, when Hilda, equipped for the journey, stood, bouquet in hand, ready to go to the carriage which Perry brought to the gate.
“Good-bye, dear Aunt Merryman!” she said, putting an arm around that faithful friend as they stood upon the piazza.
“Good-bye, dear Hilda!” responded the lady as she pressed kisses upon the lips and the fair brow of the girl. “We shall miss you; do not forget us.”
“How can I forget, when I have found mother and father in you and Uncle Merryman?”