“Yes, Major Stanley came,” he said, in reply to her questions, and Adah was glad it was put to him, for the blushes dyed her cheek at once, and she bent over Willie to hide them, while Charlie continued:  “Captain Worthington came, too, Adah’s brother, you know.  He was in the same battle with the doctor, was wounded rather seriously and has been discharged, I believe.”

“Oh,” and Mrs. Richards seemed quite interested now, asking where the young men were, and appearing disappointed when told that, after waiting a few moments in hopes of seeing the ladies, they had returned to the hotel, where Mrs. Worthington and Alice were stopping.

“I fully expected the ladies here; pray, send for them at once,” she said, but Adah interposed: 

“Her mother would not willingly be separated from Hugh, and as he of course would remain at the hotel, it would be useless to think of persuading Mrs. Worthington to come to Terrace Hill.”

“But Miss Johnson surely will come,” persisted Mrs. Richards.

Adah could not explain then that Alice was less likely to leave Hugh than her mother, but she said:  “Miss Johnson, I think, will not leave mother alone,” and so the matter was settled.

It was a terribly long day to Adah, for Mrs. Richards and her daughter kept their darkened room, seeing no one who called, and appearing shocked when Adah stole out from their presence, and taking Willie with her, sought the servants’ sitting-room, where the atmosphere was not so laden with restraint.  Once the elder lady rang for Pamelia, asking where Mrs. Richards was, and looking a little distressed when told she was in the garden playing with Willie.

“Why, do you want her?” was Pamelia’s blunt inquiry, to which her mistress responded with an aggrieved sigh: 

“No-o, only I thought perhaps she was with her dead husband; but, poor thing, it is not her nature, I presume, to take it much to heart.”

Pamelia didn’t believe she did “take it much to heart.”  Indeed, she didn’t see how she could, but she said nothing, and Adah was left to play with Willie until Alice was announced as being in the reception-room.  She had driven around, she said, to call on Mrs. Richards, and after that take Adah with her to the cottage, where Anna, she knew, was anxious to receive her.  At first Mrs. Richards demurred, fearing it would be improper, but saying:  “my late son’s wife is, of course, her own mistress, and can do as she likes.”

Very adroitly Alice waived all objections, and bore Adah off in triumph.

“I knew you must be lonely up there,” she said, as they drove slowly along, “and there can be no harm in visiting one’s sick sister.”

Anna surely did not think there was, as her warm, welcoming kisses fully testified.

“I wanted so much to see you to-day,” she said, “that I have worked myself into quite a fever; but knowing mother as I do, I feared she might not sanction your coming;” then proudly turning down the blanket, she disclosed the red-faced baby, who, just one week ago, had come to the Riverside Cottage.