CHAPTER XI.
THE WARRIOR QUEEN.
Happily, happily, the days and weeks slipped by at Hartley Farm; and now September was half gone, and in two weeks more Hilda's parents would return.

The letter had just arrived which fixed the date of their homecoming and Hildegarde had carried it upstairs to feast on it in her own room.

She sat by the window in the little white rocking-chair, and read the words over and over again.

In two weeks--really in two little weeks--she should see her mother again! It was too good to be true.
"Dragons, do you hear ?" she cried, turning towards the wash-handstand.
"You have seen my mother, Dragons, and she has washed her little blessed face in your bowl.

I should think that might have stopped your ramping, if anything could.