But when at last the carriage rolled through the gates of Miss
Ludington's estate, and the houses of the mimic village began to glance
by, her manner instantly changed. With an exclamation of joyful surprise,
she put her head out at the window, and then looking back at them, cried,
delightedly, "Why it's Hilton! You have brought me home! There's our
house!" No sooner had she alighted than she ran up the walk to the door,
and tried to open it. Paul, hurrying after, unlocked it, and she burst
in, while he and Miss Ludington followed her, wondering.
The servants had gone to bed, leaving the lower part of the house dimly
lighted. Ida hurried on ahead from room to room with the confident step
of one whose feet knew every turning. It was evident that she needed no
one to introduce her there.
When Miss Ludington and Paul followed her into the sitting-room, she was
standing before her own picture in an attitude of utter astonishment.
"Where did they get that picture of me?" she demanded. "I never had a
picture painted."
For a few moments there was no reply.
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