Bad Hugh

"Oh," and Mrs. Richards seemed quite interested now, asking where the

young men were, and appearing disappointed when told that, after waiting

a few moments in hopes of seeing the ladies, they had returned to the

hotel, where Mrs. Worthington and Alice were stopping.

"I fully expected the ladies here; pray, send for them at once," she

said, but Adah interposed: "Her mother would not willingly be separated from Hugh, and as he of

course would remain at the hotel, it would be useless to think of

persuading Mrs. Worthington to come to Terrace Hill."

"But Miss Johnson surely will come," persisted Mrs. Richards.

Adah could not explain then that Alice was less likely to leave Hugh

than her mother, but she said: "Miss Johnson, I think, will not leave

mother alone," and so the matter was settled.

It was a terribly long day to Adah, for Mrs. Richards and her daughter

kept their darkened room, seeing no one who called, and appearing

shocked when Adah stole out from their presence, and taking Willie with

her, sought the servants' sitting-room, where the atmosphere was not so

laden with restraint. Once the elder lady rang for Pamelia, asking where

Mrs. Richards was, and looking a little distressed when told she was in

the garden playing with Willie.

"Why, do you want her?" was Pamelia's blunt inquiry, to which her

mistress responded with an aggrieved sigh: "No-o, only I thought perhaps she was with her dead husband; but, poor

thing, it is not her nature, I presume, to take it much to heart."

Pamelia didn't believe she did "take it much to heart." Indeed, she

didn't see how she could, but she said nothing, and Adah was left to

play with Willie until Alice was announced as being in the

reception-room. She had driven around, she said, to call on Mrs.

Richards, and after that take Adah with her to the cottage, where Anna,

she knew, was anxious to receive her. At first Mrs. Richards demurred,

fearing it would be improper, but saying: "my late son's wife is, of

course, her own mistress, and can do as she likes."

Very adroitly Alice waived all objections, and bore Adah off in triumph.

"I knew you must be lonely up there," she said, as they drove slowly

along, "and there can be no harm in visiting one's sick sister."

Anna surely did not think there was, as her warm, welcoming kisses fully

testified.

"I wanted so much to see you to-day," she said, "that I have worked

myself into quite a fever; but knowing mother as I do, I feared she

might not sanction your coming;" then proudly turning down the blanket,

she disclosed the red-faced baby, who, just one week ago, had come to

the Riverside Cottage.