"Not in the least wrong, dear sir," said Hilda, laughing. "But you said nothing about a young person. You said 'the handsomest.'"
"Precisely," said the Colonel again. "And after all, a gown is a temporary thing, Hugh. Now, a bit of jewelry--but now, Hildegarde, I put it to you, if you were going to choose a gown for Elizabeth Beadle, for example; suppose Hugh and I were going to take a present home to Elizabeth Beadle; there's no better woman of her station in the mortal universe, sir, I don't care who the second may be. What do you think suitable, hey?"
"Oh, Guardian!" and "Oh, Colonel Ferrers!" cried Hugh and Hildegarde, in a breath. "How delightful!"
"I think Hugh ought to choose," said Hildegarde, with some self-denial; and she added to herself:
"If only he will not choose the blue and red plaid; though there is nothing she would like so well, to be sure!"
Hugh surveyed the shining prospect with radiant eyes.
"I think you are the very kindest person in all the world!" he said. "I think--my mind is full of thoughts, but now I will make my choice."
He was silent, and the three stood absorbed, heedless of the constantly increasing crowd that surged and elbowed past them.
"My great-aunt is fond of bright colours," said the child, at last. Hildegarde shivered.
"She would like best the red and blue plaid. _But_, people must not always have the things they like best. You remember the green apples, Guardian, and how they weren't half as good as the medicine was horrid."
"Most astonishing boy in the habitable universe!" murmured the Colonel, under his breath. "Don't undertake to say what kind of boys there may be in Mars, you understand, but so far as this planet goes,--hey? Ha! well, have you made your choice, Young Sir?"
Hugh pointed out a gray silk, with a pretty purple figure. "That is the very best thing for my great-aunt," he said.
"That will fill her with delirious rapture, and it will not put out the eyes of anybody. We shall all be happy with that silk."
So in they went to the shop, and Hugh bought the silk, and the Colonel paid for it, and then they all went off to the Metropolitan, and spent the rest of the morning in great joy.
"AND how have you spent the morning, my dear?" asked Mrs. Delansing.