The silver star., 1899-03-30


could surprise her further.
rs it possible that you can be my
niece, Hannah Pym?"
Yes. answered Hannah. and her
passive face underwent a transforma-
tion as she looked eagerly at her
aunt's face. But evidently something
she saw there disappointed her, be-
cause the brightness almost immedi-
ately disappeared. and she looked calm
and dull and almost uninterested.
Il am glad to see you said Miss
Denton civilly. but quite formally, and
not offering her niece warmer greet
| ing than a simple handshake. MY
| father would have come to meet you
himself. only he is very old. you know.
and driving seems to shake him a good
deal now. He seldom goes farther
than the grounds in his invalid chair"
"oh, is he so poorly as that?" said
Hannah, as she walked steadily by her
aunt's side, tracing the resemblance to
her mother in every feature, and yet
missing the warm affectionate touch
which caused Rachel Pyms children
to adore her
Outside the station gates comfort
able carriage was in waiting. and Han
nah took her seat by her aunt's side.
with the odd feeling that she was still
in kind OF dream.
1T is very pretty here just now"
said Miss Denton presently. and Han
nah wondered more and more that she
could talk on such trivial matters. and
not even ask after her mothers well
fare. Il suppose you have not been
in Hampshire before?'
No, never" answered Hannah, and
she could not soften the somewhat
| hard note in her voice. Miss Denton
was perfectly conscious of it, and she
recognized at once that her niece was
no common girl; but she made no sign
as she sat bolt upright in the carriage,
keeping her level brows straightly
fixed on the road along which they
rapidly and smoothly rolled.
You will enjoy being here. l al
ways think this is the incest season of
the year in Hampshire, 1t gets SO warm
later. The Gables is looking very
pretty just now; the season is very
| early, and all the rhododendrons are
| just coming into bloom.
There is my father on the lawn: l
| daresay he is looking out for u.s." said
Miss Denton. and Hannah was quick
to notice how particular she was to say
my father" always, and never your
grandfather"
The house. which was approached by
short and winding carriage drive, had
beautiful green lawn before the door,
sloping away from the gravel sweep
where the old gentleman's bath chair
was being wheeled up and down by his
man.
Hannah looked at him eagerly.
So you are Rachel's daughter" he
said in faltering voice You are
like her. You are welcome to The
Gables"
AS he spoke these words he regarded
| her keenly. so keenly that for the mo-
ment Hannah. usually self-contained
/ and Unconditional, was on the verge OF
tears, because, Instead OF the loving
welcome for which she hoped, here
there was nothing but criticism, which
| she felt scarcely able to endure. For
the moment her one desire was to flee
back to the station and return the way
she had come.
You are like your mother" said the
old gentleman presently. II hope you
left her well?"
Yes. thank you. quite WE'LL" an
swered Hannah stifily.
Il suppose she did not give you any
message for me?"
NO. sir, none" she answered. in
the same quiet Unconditional voice.
oh. she didn't? Well, In that per-
haps she was wise. But you mustn't
say sir to me, do you hear? am your
grandfather. Let me hear you say
Grandfather
Hannah repeated the word obedient-
ly. the old man In the meantime keep
ing his eyes firmly fixed on her face.
You're very like your mother;
you've got her fine figure and eyes.
Well. / hope you won't make such a
fool OF yourself as she did: but there,
you don't look as II you would. Take
her into the house, Bertha; and she's
to have her mothers room, do you
hear?" he called after his unwilling
daughter. as she turned to lead the way
into the house.
MY father doesn't take tea, bu,
begs that you will excuse him." said
Miss Denton formally. as she might
have spoken to any stranger guest,
when they met later In the tearoom.
He wants to see you In the library
nfter; I daresay he wants to ask you
a great many questions about your
mother. How many brothers and SIS
ters have you?"
Il have one brother and one sister
younger than l an" answered Han
nah.
When Hannah entered the dimly
lighted library In which the old gen.
tlemnn sat in his easy chair. she felt
almost rs an offender might feel
called out for judgment. He bade her
sit down In front Of him. and. fixing
his keen eyes on her face. proceeded
to put her through catechism re-