Hildegarde's Home

ared carrying a Hu

ths of misery, carrying a huge bunch of roses. He stumbled while coming up the steps, and dropped half the roses, which increased his discomfort so much that Hildegarde was really sorry for him. Moreover, when seen by d

garde pleasantly. "What lovely roses! A

them with his compliments. I'm sorry I kno

, controlling her desire to laugh, said cordially: "Oh, don't go!

h, blushing redder than the ro

arde innocently. "I thought this was

he lad awkwardly. "N

," said Hildeg

Then Hildegarde said in a matter-of-fact tone

reply. "How

d of griffin. There used to be a boy at dancing-school, two or three years ago, who was so shy it was really p

ol?" Jack inquired, ventur

eed!" replied Hilde

hated

helped to clip the long stems of the roses, and pulled off superfluous leaves. It appeared that he did not care much for flowers, though he admitted that roses were "pretty." He did not care for

'opeless chap?" said Hildegarde t

if he were fond of music. I

on, and the embarrassed wrinkle disappeare

sic the last two summers. I had everything else that was ni

both," said J

metimes. My own piano has not come yet, but there is the dear

said Jack, "but I have m

de, opening her eyes wide. "H

arlier, though my father said that as soon as I could hold a knife and fork I could

degarde. "Tell me about i

old church that was going to be repaired, and bought the sounding-board. Oh, it must have been a couple of hundred years old. Then he moused about more and found an old fellow, a descendant of one of Amati's workmen, and I believe he would have bought him, too, if he could; but, anyhow, they were great chums, and he t

not look in the least like a musical genius, this long-legged, curly-haired lad, with his blue eyes and his simple, honest face. She thought of the lion front of Beethoven, and the brilliant, exquisite beauty of Mozart, and tr

glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes. "I have heard a great deal of music, of course, and I love it dearly; but I don't kno

imself; besides, she was really over-awed by this superior knowledge in one whom the night before she had been inclined to set down as a bo

turned in full force. His animation died away; he hung his head, and muttered that he "couldn't possibly, thank you! Uncle Tom-stayed too long

y. "Has my hair turned to snakes, Hilda, or what is there so frightful in my appeara

ildegarde. "You came upon h

ill appear gradually, like the Che

re right, as usual. It is a tiresome way you have, so monotonous! But really he is a very nice boy, and he knows, oh!

ghtful to have some musical evenings, and Hildegar

seven would give me-oh! ever so much time, and I have none at all. Here is the mor

'Makers of Florence' is lying on my table at this minute. Come

things happened. I had to sew on boot-buttons before breakfast, three of them, and th

ng harness. Hildegarde, who was in her own room, meditated a plunge down her private staircase and an escape by way of the back door, but decided that it

c. Miss Loftus, whose name was Leonie, was small and rather pretty, though she did not look altogether amiable. She was inclined to pat

very quickly. We vegetate here for three months every summer; it's papa's"

ldegarde quietly. "We

d think!" she said with a superior smile. "A few months will probably

prosperous neighbourhood. All the farms look thrifty

aid Miss Loftus. "Very lik

social life,"

she could not help saying it,

h made our heroine want to pinch her, and added, "You must

often at The Poplars, Mrs. Grahame. There is not another house within five miles where one can visit.

Grahame said very quietly, "I have known Colonel Fer

cared. "I had no idea-I never heard of any one knowi

t her will, to lunch with them the following Friday; an

nd Capulet neighbourhood," said Mrs. Grah

ldegarde. "Shall we be

er, there is no question as to which neighbour we shall find most congenial. And now, ch

ly up the stairs; "only, darling, don't be so-s