em."

Silence again. Hildegarde tried to eat her chicken, but every morsel
seemed to choke her; her heart beat painfully, and she saw through a
mist of angry tears. Oh, why had she come here? What would she not give
to be at home again!

Presently Mrs. Delansing spoke again, and her tone was perceptibly
gentler.

"My dear, you must not think that I mean to be unkind, nor did I
mean--consciously--to reflect upon your mother, for whom your affection
is commendable, though perhaps strongly expressed."

"I am sorry!" said Hildegarde, impulsively. "I ought not to have spoken
so. I beg your pardon, Aunt Emily!"

Mrs. Delansing bowed. "You are freely pardoned! I was about to say, when
this little interruption occurred, that I had hoped you could be content
for a few days under my roof, without seeking pleasure elsewhere; but
age is poor company for youth."

"But you could not see me this morning, Aunt Emily! You said last night
that you never saw anybody before lunch. And what should I do in my
room? It is a charming room, but you surely did not expect me to stay in
it all the morning, doing nothing?"

"I should have thought you might find plenty of occupation!" said Mrs.
Delansing. "In my time it was thought not too much for a young lady to
devote the greater part of the day to the care of her person; this, of
course, included fine needlework and other feminine occupations."

"I did not bring any work with me," said Hildegarde. "You see, I must go
back to-morrow, Aunt Emily, and there are so many errands that I have to
do. This afternoon I must go out again; and is there anything I can do
for you? I shall be going by Arnold's, if you want anything there."

"I thank you; Hobson makes my purchases for me!" said Mrs. Delansing,
stiffly. "She would better accompany you to Arnold's; there is apt to be
a crowd in these large shops, which I consider unsuited for gentlewomen.
I will tell Hobson to accompany you."

But Hildegarde protested against this, saying, with truth, that she must
pay a visit first. The idea of going about with Hobson at her heels was
intolerable for the girl who had spent the first sixteen years of her
life in New York.

She finally carried her point, and also obtained permission to read to
her aunt for an hour before going out. It was a particularly dull weekly
that was chosen, but she read as well as she knew how, and had the
pleasure of seeing Mrs. Delansing's stern face relax into something lik