n that
account, rather than on account of his birth, that he possesses the
qualities of which you so kindly speak, my dear mistress," answered
Bertha.

Hilda made no reply; affliction had not taught her to adopt the
principles which guided Bertha's conduct.

The brief daylight hours of the northern winter had once more begun to
increase, when Hilda received a letter from her father, announcing his
intention of returning to Lunnasting in the early part of the summer,
with Edda. He also spoke of her sister's engagement to a Colonel
Armytage, remarking that the marriage would soon take place.

It is scarcely possible to describe the varied, but chiefly painful
feelings which this information created in Hilda's bosom. Her father
had hitherto remained ignorant of her conduct, and she felt that he
would be very justly incensed when he heard of it. Still she was too
proud and self-willed to meditate for an instant asking his pardon, or
seeking for reconciliation, and her whole thoughts were occupied in
considering how she could best meet the storm of indignation and anger
which she expected to burst on her. For Edda, however, she had as warm
an affection as it was in her nature to feel for anybody so totally
different as her sister and she were to each other. She could scarcely
help despising Edda for her gentleness and her kind and affectionate
disposition, as well as for the implicit obedience she yielded to their
father's often imperious commands.

"I pray heaven the gentleman our sweet Miss Edda is going to marry is
worthy of her--good, and generous, and kind--or it will break her
heart," said nurse Bertha, as they were talking over the subject
together.

"It takes a good deal to break a Wardhill's heart, or mine would have
gone long ago," answered Hilda, with a sigh so deep and sad that it made
Bertha's sicken as she heard it.

Lawrence Brindister was as little pleased as any one with the report of
Sir Marcus Wardhill's intended return. Poor Lawrence had that
instinctive dread of his guardian which a cat or a dog has of the person
who takes every occasion of giving them a kick or a buffet when they
meet. He felt that he was unjustly and tyrannically treated, yet he had
no means of breaking away from his thraldom. Sir Marcus had a very
simple plan for keeping him within bounds; he never intrusted him with
money; and as poor Lawrence was known to be of unsound mind, nobody was
found willing to lend him their