After sending the valentine he hoped to hear a word from Hilda, but in her letter to his mother no special mention was made of him, so he wrote to her imploring her to believe him sincere in his profession of affection for her, and asked for a line bidding him hope. Perry brought the missive from the village post-office and Norah took it to the parlor where Hilda and Mr. Courtney were conversing by the early evening fire-light.
Hilda, with a deep blush, opened and read it and passed it to Mr. Courtney.
"I hope you don't think I expect this of you," he said gently. "Believe me, I have not a particle of jealous curiosity."
"No, sir; I gave it because I wish your advice in regard to answering it, and you could not give it unless you understood the whole affair. Aunt Sarah has also written to me, and says that Fred deplores his mistake and she hopes I will reconsider the matter, for she knows him to be sincere and pities him."
"It would be well to answer both letters immediately," remarked Mr. Courtney when he finished the perusal of Fred's letter. "It is far kinder to tell them the relation in which we stand to each other than to allow them to indulge a false hope."
"I do not mind telling Fred," replied Hilda, a flush very like anger coming into her face, "but I do feel sorry to grieve Aunt Sarah. She is as kind to me as an own mother, and I love her so dearly."
"I know it, but it will not be the task to write it that it would be to tell them were you there. I should write at once to both."
"I will do as you advise. I can see that it is the kinder way."
"There is another favor I would ask of you, my dear one, and that is not to address me as 'sir.' It keeps the difference in our ages in very large figures before my eyes."
"I never thought of that," responded Hilda, laughing and blushing.
"I hope you will never feel under more restraint in my company than in that of Fred Warfield or any other person near your own age. I should be grieved to know that we were not in every way congenial and at home with each other."
"I never felt otherwise with you; you have always appeared young to me," said Hilda, sincerely.
"Thank you, my darling; I am truly glad to hear this. I have known two instances where the husband was double the age of his wife, and the lady in both cases seemed to be in awe of her husband. I would be miserable to know that you felt so toward me."