Queen Hildegarde

Hildegarde, by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

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Title: Queen Hildegarde
Author: Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards
Release Date: August 8, 2005 [EBook #16473]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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QUEEN HILDEGARDE
BOOKS BY LAURA E. RICHARDS
* * * * *
Each 1 volume, cloth decorative, illustrated, $1.75
Star Bright Captain January
The above volumes boxed as a set, $3.50
STORIES FOR LITTLE FOLKS
Each, one volume, cloth decorative, illustrated
Five Minute Stories $1.75 More Five Minute Stories 1.75 Three Minute Stories 1.75 A Happy Little Time 1.75 Four Feet, Two Feet, No Feet 2.75 When I Was Your Age 1.75
THE CAPTAIN JANUARY SERIES
Captain January $1.00 Melody 1.00
Each, one volume, illustrated, 90 cents
Jim of Hellas Marie Rosin the Beau Snow-white Narcissa "Some Day" Nautilus Isla Heron The Little Master
Captain January--Baby Peggy Edition $2.50
HILDEGARDE-MARGARET SERIES
Each, one volume, illustrated, $1.75
Queen Hildegarde Hildegarde's Holiday Hildegarde's Home Hildegarde's Neighbors Hildegarde's Harvest Three Margarets Margaret Montfort Peggy Rita Fernley House The Merryweathers
The above eleven volumes are also boxed as a set, $19.25
* * * * *
Honor Bright $1.75 Honor Bright's New Adventure 1.75 The Armstrongs 1.50 The Green Satin Gown 1.50
* * * * *
L.C. PAGE & COMPANY (Inc.) 53 Beacon Street Boston, Mass.
[Illustration: "SHE GLANCED INTO THE LONG CHEVAL-GLASS."]

THE HILDEGARDE SERIES
Queen Hildegarde
A STORY FOR GIRLS
BY
LAURA E. RICHARDS
Author 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."
"Needs a change!" said Mr. Graham, shortly. "Best thing for her. Been studying too hard, I suppose, and eating caramels. If I could discover the man who invented that pernicious sweetmeat, I would have him hanged!--hanged, madam!"
"Oh, no, you wouldn't, dear!" said his wife, laughing softly; "I think his life would be quite safe. But about Hilda now! She does need a change, certainly; but is the overland journey in July just the right kind of change for her, do you think?"
Mr. Graham frowned, ran his fingers through his hair, drummed on the table, and then considered his boots attentively. "Well--no!" he said at last, reluctantly. "I--suppose--not. But what can we do with her? Send her to Fred and Mary at the seashore?"
"To sleep in a room seven by twelve, and be devoured by mosquitoes, and have to wear 'good clothes' all the time?" returned Mrs. Graham. "Certainly not."
"Aunt Emily is going to the mountains," suggested Mr. Graham, doubtfully.
"Yes," replied his wife, "with sixteen trunks, a maid, a footman, and three lapdogs! That would never do for Hilda."
"You surely are not thinking of leaving her alone here with the servants?"
The lady shook her head. "No, dear; such poor wits as Heaven granted me are not yet entirely gone, thank you!"
Mr. Graham rose from his chair and flung out both arms in a manner peculiar to him when excited. "Now, now, now, Mildred!" he said impressively, "I have always said that you were a good woman, and I shall continue to assert the