of

"The Margaret Series," "The Hildegarde Series," "Captain January,"
"Melody," "Five Minute Stories," etc.

_ILLUSTRATED_

[Illustration]

THE PAGE COMPANY BOSTON . PUBLISHERS

_Copyright, 1889, by_
THE PAGE COMPANY
Copyright renewed, 1917

Made in U.S.A.

Thirty-second Impression, August, 1927

THE COLONIAL PRESS
C.H. SIMONDS CO., BOSTON, U.S.A.

TO

MY BELOVED SISTER,

=Maud Howe Elliott.=

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. HILDEGARDIS GRAHAM 9

II. DAME AND FARMER 31

III. THE PRISONER OF DESPAIR 49

IV. THE NEW HILDA 73

V. THE BLUE PLATTER 94

VI. HARTLEY'S GLEN 111

VII. PINK CHIRK 135

VIII. THE LETTER 160

IX. THE OLD CAPTAIN 178

X. A PARTY OF PLEASURE 198

XI. THE WARRIOR QUEEN 218

XII. THE OLD MILL 237

XIII. THE TREE-PARTY 272

THE LAST WORD 289

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

"SHE GLANCED INTO THE LONG CHEVAL-GLASS"
(_See page 32_) _Frontispiece_

"SHE PUSHED THE BUSHES ASIDE AND CAME TOWARDS HIM" 47

"SHE BENT IN REAL DISTRESS OVER THE CURRANTS" 89

"SHE FLUNG THE CORN IN GOLDEN SHOWERS ON THEIR HEADS" 117

"THE PALE GIRL MADE NO ATTEMPT TO RISE" 155

"'SAY, MISS HILDY,--DO YOU LIKE PURPS?'" 205

"EACH TOOK A SKIMMER AND SET EARNESTLY TO WORK" 227

"'TAKE IT AND OPEN IT!'" 267

QUEEN HILDEGARDE.

CHAPTER I.

HILDEGARDIS GRAHAM.

"And have you decided what is to become of Hilda?" asked Mrs. Graham.

"Hilda?" replied her husband, in a tone of surprise, "Hilda? why, she
will go with us, of course. What else should become of the child? She
will enjoy the trip immensely, I have no doubt."

Mrs. Graham sighed and shook her head. "I fear that is impossible, dear
George!" she said. "To tell the truth, I am a little anxious about
Hilda; she is not at all well. I don't mean that she is actually _ill_,"
she added quickly, as Mr. Graham looked up in alarm, "but she seems
languid and dispirited, has no appetite, and is inclined to be
fretful,--an unusual thing for her."

"Ne