Hildegarde's Home

d avenue, and the steps to which it led were broad, and the whole house had an air of being spread out. "But Mrs

e was a very young gentleman. He wore corduroy knickerbockers, and he was lying flat on his stomach, with his heels in the air, sucking a large bull's-eye. The sudden apparition of a tall maiden in white, with shining eyes, nearly caused him to swallow the bull's-eye, but he recovered himself, and gazed steadfastly at

a stately butler through room after room, until she came to one where Mrs. and Miss Loftus were waiting

listening every moment; for I said to Leonie, 'Suppose she should not c

smiling; "so there were no

e ring for some Florida water. No, I insist!" as Hildegarde made a gesture of protest. "It is so dangerous to walk in the heat of the day. The brain, you know, becomes heated,

Loftus, "I don't believe Mi

ng, you know, Mrs. Loftus. I always walk, everywhere. I like it very much better than

the spinal marrow; so important, my dear! and towards evening there is a chill in the air, malaria, all kinds of dreadful

opening at her feet. "You are very kind, but I c

Mr. Loftus appeared, a small, shrivelled man, with sharp eyes, whose idea of maki

should say! Rooster, Mrs. L.! Is this your twelve-dollar cook? Not a thing Miss Grahame can eat! She'll go and tell old Ferrers how we gave her

indeed, and to hope that she did not show more of her disgust than was proper. The luncheon was very fine, in spite of Mr. Loftus's depreciat

comment. "No need to stint yourself here; pl

tiresome, puppa!" changed the conversation, and began to talk

c description of some marvellous gown which fitted the fortunate owne

"I never can tell one dressmaker's style from anothe

ntly. "I went to Madame Vivien's school, you see, and we had a regular hour for study

me Vivien's school

ed Mr. Loftus. "It cost

e were Madame's favourites, because we had the air, she always said. She couldn't endure a dowdy girl, and she dressed beautifully herself. There were two or three girls that were regular digs, with their noses always in

mpathising with Miss Antrim, though conscious that she would ne

pretty well, when it wasn't too poky. But you didn't

aking a large mouthful of mayonnaise, and continuing her remarks

salute and take leave of a hostess, how to order a dinner,-those were some of the most

" exclaimed Mrs. Loftus, triumphantly. "Te

er at length, from little-neck clams to

ar cook, Mrs. L. Hm! Fine dinners on paper, I dare say. Hand me that salad! Why

s," continued the fair student of Madame

rom when I was a girl! Why, when I was married I had thirty-five yards of silk in my wedding dress,

mma!" exclaimed her da

nd three hundred and eighty-two bows." The two girls exclaimed in wonder, and Mrs. Loftus continued in high good-humou

e?" cried Hildegarde. "

all round, and an overskirt, very full too, and the back very deep, flounced, scalloped, and trimmed with narrow piping, looped in each corner with s

Leonie frankly. "You must have

us. "Are you goin' to sit here all day talkin' about women's folderols?

could plead an appointment to meet her mother at a certai

in the park while the horses are waiting, or something of that sort." She begged Hildegarde to wait till the horses were harnessed, but our he

egarde was startled by the apparition of a small boy in

he ardour of four years old. This boy must be six or seven, she thought. He had red hair, a round, rosy, freckled face, and two eyes so blue and so bright that

d Hildegarde. "Is it

Then shyness seized him; he hung his h

nued our heroine. "Do you

till intent

hould like to tell you about my puppy, if you would walk alon

," said the

s softening. "That was my dear father's name. We must be

de, occasionally stealing a glance at the kin

the skirt of my dress; but, of course, I didn't mind, for I knew he was cutting his teeth, poor dear, and couldn't help it. But when he gnawed all the corners off the leather chairs in the dining-room, my mother dear didn't like it, and she said Patsy must go. Then my father said he would take him to his office every day, and k

uggested Hugh, with a gleam

t to lunch; and as the day was mild (though it was winter), he left his new ulster on a chair, where he had laid it when he first came in. Hugh, when he cam

happened? Did he smite him hip and thig

am afraid papa gave him a pretty severe whipping. He had to, of course. And then he

er for Patsy. Would you like to be a dog?" he ad

cold bones, and that I could not endure. Besides, you couldn't read, or play on th

o with four legs!" he added, giving a jump with his two stout little limbs. "And never to have to sit up straight,

o have to lie on the floor"-"I like to lie on the floor," put in Hugh-"and to have unnatural people, wh

gged his tail to tell me something, and there was an old jug in the way, and it fell over and broke. And now he isn't to come into the h

r face away, and was

sked presently, with a susp

bone, but I'll call him." He gave a long, clear whistle, and a superb collie

her real name is Hilda. A Purple Maid was what I called you when I saw you coming up t

e and more that this was a very queer little boy. "I h

ike the rosy eve. But 'purple' has a nice sound, don't you think s

mere idle curiosity, as she afterwards assured herself

ied Hugh promptly. "And

y!" cried Hildegarde hastily. "You

imply. "That is what I do call

rude and unkind things," said

e boy. "For they really are, you know. I'd rath

been making Frie

her advances. He was a beautiful creature, of true collie brown, with a black nose, and the finest white waistcoat in the

it affectionately. "I know you are as good as you are handsom

almost always the same things. He won't eat apples, and I don't chas

arde saw in the distance a bl

nd see her, Hugh?-she is very nice!" she added, seeing that the boy hung back. But Hugh studied

d. "I love you, and you are my Purp

little lad!" cried Hildegarde wa

enough," he said. "Come, Merlin! Good-by, Purple Maid!"