; but--he, it was all over him, at the
first glance."

"Poor Raymond!" said Mrs. Grahame again, meditatively. "And yet he was
very happy in his marriage, I have always heard. His wife was a lovely
person, and sincerely attached to him. But--I suppose the seeing me
brought back his boyhood, and some of the old feeling,--we are singular
creatures, Hilda. Perhaps you think I might have told you of this
before, Hilda. You see, I never thought of it as anything belonging to
me, dear."

"Of course," said Hilda. "I know! And I should not have asked if--if he
had not made it so _very_ obvious. But, oh, how charming,--how lovely he
is! And how beautiful to see him with Jack, and the dear Colonel with
both of them! My mother, do you know that we have the very most
delightful friends in the habitable universe?"

"It really does seem so," said her mother. "And what a Christmas we
shall have, with so many of them around us! Let me see! Mr. Merryweather
came to-day. Now the whole Smiling Signal Service, as absurd Gerald
calls it, is here,--except the good Roger."

Except, indeed! Hildegarde's heart gave a great bound, and she felt the
colour rushing to cheek and forehead.

"We shall be very glad to see Roger?" said Mrs. Grahame. "Very glad,
daughter dear?"

"Very glad indeed, dearest mother!" said Hilda. She met her mother's
loving glance bravely, with her own bright smile; here, the blushing did
not matter, for the two hearts, mother's and daughter's, beat in such
true time together that words were hardly needed to carry the swift
thought from mind to mind.

There was a moment's pause; then Mrs. Grahame went on.

"And are they not planning all kinds of merrymaking for Christmas week?
Dear me! Why, it is this very coming week, Hilda! Where has the month
gone?"

"Oh, it is to be a great time!" said Hildegarde. "The flower party, and
lots of people coming down from town for it; and a toboggan-party,--if
the snow will only come! and the tree at Roseholme, and I don't know
what else. Do you know, I almost thought the Colonel and Mr.
Merryweather would quarrel about the tree; both wanted it so much. And
then they both gave up at the same minute, and each insisted that the
other should have it, till I thought they would quarrel over that. But
it all ended most happily. Hugh, of course! He came up quietly, and held
out two straws; and they drew, and neither said another word. Oh,
Mother, Hugh is so happy with Jack! I met them ju