“I know I will love her as a daughter. How did you like the family who have so kindly cared for her?”
“I never met strangers whom I admire more. We have taken her from an excellent home, mother, and must try to make her happy here.”
“We will. And now tell me of my future daughter-in-law,” continued Mrs. Warfield, with a smile. “I hope she is well and happy.”
“Perfectly so,” replied the young man, smiling in turn and reddening slightly. “She sent her love to her future mother-in-law.”
“For which I am duly obliged. When does she expect to come home?”
“In a fortnight, and has promised to be my wife within the year. Mother dear, you will have more daughters than you can manage!”
“Yes, I can count upon three. Fred will be bringing me a daughter one of these days, I suppose.”
“If he can keep in love with any one girl long enough. He is fickle, and the girls seem to know it.”
“He is a jolly, generous, conscientious boy,” commented his mother with a glow of pride. “I don’t believe he would intentionally wound the feelings of anyone, and I hope the girls he flirts with understand that he means nothing serious.”
A step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment Hilda appeared at the parlor door.