He enjoyed her quaint manner of telling the events which transpired within the range of her knowledge, among them the arrival of Norah's aunt from Scotland, an event of great interest to Norah, and through her to Hilda.

"She is now at your Uncle Merryman's, I suppose?" remarked Mr. Courtney, with a view to keeping up his share of the conversation.

"No, she is in Baltimore, but she wants to come to Dorton to be near Norah; and Aunt Merryman will try to get her a place as housekeeper. She is a very good housekeeper," concluded Hilda sagely.

When they reached "My Lady's Manor," Mr. Courtney unlocked the front door, and they pa.s.sed in; and after closing it he led the way through the wide hall to the rooms on either side, all seeming to Hilda like the almost forgotten remembrance of a dream. Then they ascended to the second floor, then to the third and from thence up the narrow stair-way to the walk on the roof, where Mr. Courtney pointed out the prominent places in the city and noted the changes in Hilda's expressive countenance, as in her quaint manner she gave her views of them.

It was growing twilight and so they turned to descend, Hilda being the first to reach the stair-way.

"There is a lady waiting to come up!" she said in a half whisper, "I think she is very old."

"A lady?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr. Courtney, in surprise, and, stepping to the stair-way, he glanced down.

The little lady in black, of whom he had so often heard, stood at the foot, with bowed head and folded hands, but before Mr. Courtney could address her, she disappeared.

When they descended to the attic, Mr. Courtney, without commenting upon the subject, glanced into the rooms, but not a living creature was to be seen, nor in the rooms below it; the house was silent save for their footfalls.

"This mystery shall be explained, if possible, and that at the earliest moment," he said to himself as he locked the hall door upon their exit, and if Hilda noticed that he was silent on their walk back to "Friedenheim" she made no comment.

Mr. Courtney joined the Rev. Carl, Mrs. Courtney and Mrs. Merryman upon the piazza, while Hilda and Erma, attracted by the cheerful appearance of the kitchen, halted at the door.

"Come right in, honey," cried Uncle Andy, heartily. "We is mighty glad to see yer; we has no little chillen no mo', an' 'pears like we can nebber git used ter doin' widout 'em."

"Where have they gone?" asked Hilda as, holding Erma's hand, she stepped in.

"Roy an' Cecil has done mos' growed up, an' de little gal hab gone to heaven whar ol' Andy will go in de heavenly Master's own good time. Ol'

Andy will soon go, honey."

Hilda longed to send a message by him to her father and mother and her Uncle and Aunt Ashley, but had not courage to go near enough to him to whisper her request. Her indecision brought the delicate bloom to her cheek, which always appeared under any little excitement, and which awakened anew the admiration of Chloe.

"She is as pretty as a picture; that is just the truth," she remarked to Kitty.

"Now, Chloe, jes' yer hab done wid dat," exclaimed Andy, turning sharply about. "Ol' Satan an' de lookin' gla.s.s will done tell her dat fas'

enough widout yore help."

"They will tell her the truth, Uncle Andy, you know that your own self,"

replied Chloe nonchalantly.

"Purty is as purty does, honey; don't disremember dat," advised Andy, turning to Hilda; "don't let n.o.body make you sa.s.sy of yer beauty, fer bime-bye, if de good Lord spares yer dat long, de wrinkles will done scare de beauty away. Den whar is yer?"

"Never scared no beauty away from Mis' Emma," a.s.serted Chloe defiantly.

"Wrinkles is coming to stay, but she is a beauty in spite of them."

"'Kase mistess wan't sa.s.sy ob her beauty, dat's what I done jes' say, Chloe; de strongholt is mine, not yourn," and Andy laughed and coughed exultantly.

"Missus come of a pretty family," interposed Kitty. "She couldn't have been ugly if she had tried. When she an' Mars Courtney was bride and groom, dey was de han'somest couple in de state, an' her mother an'

grandmother were beauties in der day."

"'Kase dey was Christians, an' had der treasures laid up in heaven. Yes, Kitty, dey was good to de pore an' 'flicted, and too busy helpin' dem dat could not help demselves to be sa.s.sy about der beauty."

"They was too good for dis yer world, dat's certain," responded Kitty.

"Deed was dey, an' nebber done forgit dar manners to n.o.body. When I was de coachman, and used ter bring Selim to de block for young mistus-dat was dis Misus Courtney's grandmother-honey," he said, turning to Hilda, "an' she done come sweepin' down de piazzy steps, holdin' de long train ob her habit ober her arm, an' her pearl handled whip in her han', an'

de long plumes in her hat bowin' an' noddin', tell yer what, honey, she suttenly was purtier dan any picture."

"So she was," echoed Kitty. "I was young then, but I remember that she looked like Mis' Emma."

"But you done forget about the manners, Uncle Andy," said Chloe flippantly.

"Oh, yes! When I done led Selim to de block an' would pat de proud-sperited creetur 'till mistus mounted into de saddle, an' took the bridle, an' was startin' away, she allus said, 'Thanky, Andy!' She nebber disremembered dat, nebber."

"Yes, and Mis' Emma is just as polite as her mother and grandmother,"

said Kitty, proudly, "they was born ladies and couldn't be anything else."

It came time for Mrs. Merryman to go. Hilda and Erma were summoned. Mrs.

Courtney and her brother Valentine accompanied them across the meadow to their home, and their conversation on the return walk was of "My Lady's Manor," now bathed in the splendor of the moonlight.

CHAPTER VII-HILDA'S WELCOME TO MY LADY'S MANOR

A week pa.s.sed and one evening Mr. Courtney came out on the train to remain over night at "Friedenheim," and with him were Ralph and James Rivers.

He had something in contemplation which he wished to impart to the Rev.

Carl and Mrs. Courtney, and when supper was finished and they returned to the library he mentioned what he thought they might consider a foolish experiment.

"Brother Carl and Sister Emma, I am thinking of housekeeping. What is your opinion of it?" he asked.

"Do you mean at 'My Lady's Manor'?" asked Mrs. Courtney. "I think it would be charming thus having you for a neighbor; it would be next best to having you at 'Friedenheim'."

"I, too, am pleased," said Rev. Carl. "Are you really in earnest?"

"Yes, I would like to at least make the trial, if I can get a suitable housekeeper."

"But the apparition, Val!" reminded Rev. Carl in a low tone. "Of course we give no credence to such foolishness, but you may have trouble in getting a housekeeper."

"I would never have taken Anna there until the mystery was explained, neither would I be willing to have anyone run the chance of being frightened, but Ralph and James have a plan in view which I will not disappoint them by divulging. In the meantime Hilda mentioned that Mrs.

Merryman knows of a woman who wishes to come to Dorton; did she happen to mention it to you, Sister Emma?"

"Yes, she asked me if I knew of anyone who needs a housekeeper. It is Nora's aunt who wishes a place. She is now at a friend's house in the city."

"I wish you would see Mrs. Merryman in regard to it when convenient."

"I will go or send there to-morrow, and am sure that Mrs. Merryman will act promptly in regard to securing her."

About twilight Ralph and James, with traveling satchels in hand, walked to "My Lady's Manor" with the intention of discovering, if possible, what manner of creature it was that was deceiving so many people.