Sweet Anna Millbrook's eyes were dim with tears, and her heart was sore

with pain when told that Alice Johnson, was waiting for her in the

parlor below. Only the day before had she heard of her brother's

disgrace, feeling as she heard it, how much rather she would that he

had died ere there were so many stains upon his name. But Alice would

comfort her, and she hastened to meet her. Sitting down beside her, she

talked with her long of all that had transpired since last they met;

talked, too, of Adah, and then of Willie, who was sent for, and at

Alice's request taken by her to the hotel, where Mrs. Worthington was

stopping. He had grown to be a most beautiful and engaging child, and

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Mrs. Worthington justly felt a thrill of pride as she clasped him to her

bosom, weeping over him passionately. She could scarcely bear to lose

him from her sight, and when later in the day Anna came down for him,

she begged hard for him to stay. But Willie was rather shy of his new

grandmother, and preferred returning with Mrs. Millbrook, who promised

that he should come every day so long as Mrs. Worthington remained at

the hotel.

As soon as Mrs. Richards learned that Mrs. Worthington and Alice were in

town, she insisted upon their coming to Terrace Hill. There was room

enough, she said, and her friends were welcome there for as long a time

as they chose to stay. There were the pleasant chambers fitted up for

'Lina, they had never been occupied, and Mrs. Worthington could have

them as well as not; or better yet--could take Anna's old chamber, with

the little room adjoining, where Adah used to sleep. Mrs. Worthington

preferred the latter, and removed with Alice at Terrace Hill, while at

Anna's request Densie went to the Riverside Cottage, where she used to

live, and where she was much happier than she would have been with

strangers.

Not long could Mrs. Worthington stay contentedly at Snowdon, and after a

time Alice started with her and Lulu for Washington, taking Sam also,

partly because he begged so hard to go, and partly because she did not

care to trouble her friends with the old man, who seemed a perfect child

in his delight at the prospect of seeing "Massah Hugh." But to see him

was not so easy a matter. Indeed, he seemed farther off at Washington

than he had done at Spring Bank, and Alice sometimes questioned the

propriety of having left Kentucky at all. They were not very comfortable

at Washington, and as Mrs. Worthington pined for the pure country air,

Alice managed at last to procure board for herself, Mrs. Worthington,

Lulu and Sam, at the house of a friend whose acquaintance she had made

at the time of her visit to Virginia. It was some distance from

Washington, and so near to Bull Run that when at last the second

disastrous battle was fought in that vicinity, the roar of the artillery

was distinctly heard, and they who listened to the noise of that bloody

conflict knew just when the battle ceased, and thought with tearful

anguish of the poor, maimed, suffering wretches left to bleed and die

alone. They knew Hugh must have been in the battle, and Mrs.

Washington's anxiety amounted almost to insanity, while Alice, with

blanched cheek and compressed lip, could only pray silently that he

might be spared, and might yet come back to them. Only Sam thought of

acting.




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