Queen Hildegarde   By: Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (1850-1943)

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."