Hildegarde's Home

ried Hildegarde, rushing like a whirlwind into her

Grahame, looking up from her writing. "Not

ut beware, lest you 'rouse an Indian's indomitable na

e, laying down her pen. "Ar

ome day, and this rainy afternoon seemed to be the very time. They were in a little drawer, all by themselv

, rising. "We will examine the cabinet together

the furniture was angular and high-shouldered. On the wall was a coloured print of "London in 1802," from which the metropolis would seem to have been a singular place. The only interesting feature in the room was the cabinet which they had come to explore, and this was really a beautiful piece of furniture. It stood seven feet high at least, and was apparently of solid ebony, inlaid with yellow ivory in curious spiral patterns. In the centre was a small door, almost ent

t, mamma," she s

way one knows not how many years. Under folds of silver paper lay some damask towels, fine and thick and smooth, but yellow with a

, dear," said Mrs. Graha

n and woven by my grandmother Grahame in Scotland, before s

ways wished I had learned to spin and weave. Linen that one buys has no feeling in it. Lay it back revere

seen such needlework as this: tiny caps, wrought so thick with flower and leaf that no spot of the plain linen could be seen; robes of finest lawn, with wonderful embroidered fronts; shawls of silk flannel, with deep borders of heavy "laid work." One robe was so beautiful that both Hild

olly back in the drawer. "I did not know that old Madam Aytoun was blind. What is written

, who weighed two pounds at birth. He grew to be six feet a

aid Hildegarde. "Who else would think of all these plea

trimmed with deep gold lace, and covered with silk-embroidered flowers of richest hues, one with tulips, another with roses, a third with carnations. Folds of tissue paper separ

aded with green, and one of ruby-coloured velvet, which bore the inscription: "This was the gown on which our great-grandmother Ponsonby wore

't they? My foot would not begin to go into them. And here-oh! the lace! the lace!" For there was a whole drawer full of lace, all in little bundles neatly tied up and marked. Here was Madam Aytoun's wedding veil, Grandmother This One's Mechlin tabs, Aunt That One's Venetian flounce

garde, eagerly. "Perhaps we shall find Grea

ndmother Ponsonby; in fact, she appeared twice: first, as a splendid young matron, clad in the identical ruby velvet with the diamond buttons, her hair powdered high and adorned with feathers; and, again, as a not less superb old lady, with folds of snowy muslin

am not sure that I like to see two of the

?t. 16. Named after the royal patroness, you see. What a sweet, gentle-looking girl! I fear her magnificen

r case. "See here! Selina Euphemia McKenzie, second wife of

ower, that

re's fer

.

t like Miss Agatha's handwriting. Why, she only lived three mont

Adelaide McLeod, third wife of John Aytoun. She survived him.' I'll warrant she did!" said Mrs. Grahame. "She carries conquest in her face. All the children were of the first marriage, and I fear she was not a gentle stepmother. I wonder wh

ldegarde. "I have never

Hildegarde, who had been opening a case of purple morocco, caref

ried. "This is

hey both gazed in silence at the lov

d have loved her! I am sure we should have li

re she alive, and not a young lassie. What does the slip say

one painted for Robert Ferrers.' Robert Ferrers!" she repeat

et informed them that Mrs. Lankton was in the ha

egarde, laying down th

her. "The poor old dame! We hav

a safe place, while her mother went directly downstairs. By the time Hildegarde appeared, Mrs

ol o' water with my bar' feet, gittin' out o' bed; likely I caught my death, but it's no great matter. Ah! Mis' Grahame, I've seen trouble all my life. Mr. Aytoun, he was like a fa

rahame, kindly, as a moment's pause gave her a chan

ard to say somethin', and I ain't no manner o' doubt myself but what 'twas 'Shingle!' He had it on his mind; they needn't tell me. But nobody seemed to feel a call after he was gone. Ah, dear me! You don't know no

sked Mrs. Grahame. "I will try to have

quickly. "It is a brown c

? Ah! she'll be a comfit to you, Mis' Grahame, if you've luck to raise her, but there

Lankton?" Hilda asked, smiling down on the we

t, and she's gone. Ah! dear me! She had a store tooth, where she knocked out one of hers, slidin', and she swallered it one night, and she never got over it.

Grahame, in a voice which shook a little, expressed proper regret

auntie shall give you a cup of hot tea. You mu

re I shall go the way of all, but it doos seem as if I mought go dry, 'stead o' dreepin'. But you'll be rewarded, Mis' Grahame. I felt as