As Hugh read the date his heart gave one great throb, for that was the
summer, that the month when he lost the Golden Haired. Something, too,
reminded him of the warm moonlight night, when the little snowy fingers,
over which the fierce waters were soon to beat, had strayed through his
heavy locks, which the girl had said were too long to be becoming,
playfully severing them at random, and saying "she means to keep the
fleece to fill a cushion with."
"I wonder whose it is?" Adah said; "I've thought it might have been her
mother's."
"Her lover's more likely," suggested Hugh, glancing once more at the
picture, which certainly had in it a resemblance to the Golden Haired,
save that the curls were darker, and the eyes a deeper blue.
"Will mas'r have de carriage? He say something 'bout it," Cæsar said,
just then thrusting his woolly head in at the door, and thus reminding
Hugh that Adah had yet to hear of Aunt Eunice and his plan of taking her
thither.
With a burst of tears, Adah listened to him, and then insisted upon
going away, as she had done the previous night. She had no claim on him,
and she could not be a burden.
"You, madam, think it best, I'm sure," she said, appealing to Mrs.
Worthington, whose heart yearned strangely toward the unprotected
stranger, and who answered, promptly: "I do not, I am willing you should remain until your friends are found."
Adah offered no further remonstrance, but turning to Hugh, said,
hesitatingly: "I may hear from my advertisement. Do you take the Herald?"
"Yes, though I can't say I think much of it," Hugh replied, and Adah
continued: "Then if you ever find anything for me, you'll tell me, and I can go
away. I said, 'Direct to Adah Hastings.' Somebody will be sure to see
it. Maybe George, and then he'll know of Willie," and the white face
brightened with eager anticipation as Adah thought of George reading
that advertisement, a part of which had lighted Dr. Richards' cigar.
With a muttered invective against the "villain," Hugh left the room to
see that the carriage was ready, while his mother, following him into
the hall, offered to go herself with Adah if he liked. Glad to be
relieved, as he had business that afternoon in Versailles, and was
anxious to set off as soon as possible, Hugh accepted at once, and half
an hour later, the Spring Bank carriage drove slowly from the door,
'Lina calling after her mother to send Cæsar back immediately.