not a stranger, but my cousin, 
Conrad Picardy  however, he did manage it. Almost 
before we knew where we. were, the momentous meeting 
was over, and that without any tragic  on either 
side. It was just an ordinary introduction of a gentle- 
man to a lady. My mother was calm, my grandfather 
courteous. The whole  was as commonplace as 
possible. No conversation passed  beyond a few words 
on the extreme beauty of the day and the length of the 
drive from Bath  until my mother said something about 
her  to find the General such an invalid. 

" Yes ; I suffer much," said he. " Poor old  1" 
patting his swathed leg propped on cushions ; " it is al- 
most worse than when I was shot in battle. I can not 
walk a step. I am a nuisance to every body, especially 
to my good cousin. By the bye, I should have presented 
him to you  Major Picardy, Mrs. Picardy ; and, Conrad, 
this is my granddaughter, Elma." 

He said my name with a tender intonation. It was a 
family name, my mother had told me ; in every genera- 
tion there had been always at least one Elma Picardy; 



'UBLIC LIBRARY 



ASTOR, LENOX 
TTLDEN FOUNBATIONS 



mtmmtti 



MY MOTHEB AKD I.