Chapter I: Front Matter

QUEEN HILDEGARDE

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.

_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_

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.