"Yes. But only among the old families, you understand. It's a purely sentimental feeling."
"How long have the Hildebrands been at the 'Hundred'?"
"There was Lawrence Hildebrand——"
"My great-great-great-grandfather," I interjected.
"Yes. Well, he received a patent from the Crown. It must have been early in the seventeenth century when the second Charles Stuart was giving away principalities with both hands. There has been a Hildebrand as master ever since, except for my poor father's brief reign."
"Brief?"
"Richard Hildebrand died in June, 1918. That is just a year ago."
"My father was proud of the old family connection," continued Miss Graeme, after a little pause, "and at one time he even contemplated changing his patronymic, and so becoming actually Hildebrand of the 'Hundred,' But he never quite got to the legal process, or perhaps he then heard of you and that served to divert the current of his thoughts. When was it that he hunted you up in Philadelphia?"
"It was in March."
"He liked you certainly, and he was most anxious to have you visit us at the 'Hundred.' You were to come in the early part of June, I think."