rdly see the bank
building opposite. An awful feeling like sinking came over me as I
realized how matters stood; and the worst of it was that I had
brought it upon myself. I rushed into the dining-room and looked out
of a side window to see if the train might not be coming back; but
there was only the whirlwind of snow. I went back in the office and
threw myself on a lounge in one corner.

If any one says that I lay there with my face in a corn-husk pillow
and cried as if I were a girl, I'm not going to dispute him. If any
girl thinks that she can cry harder than I did, I'd like to see her
try it. But it, or something, made me feel better, and after a while I
could think a little. But I could not get over knowing that it was all
my own fault, and that I might be riding away on the train with
friends, and with people to see and talk to. I realized that it was
all my quick temper and stubbornness which was to blame, and
remembered how my mother had told me that it would get me into trouble
some day. "If Tom hadn't come at me so suddenly," I said out loud,
with my face still in the husk pillow, "I'd have agreed to it. Dear
old Tom, he meant all right, and I was a fool!"

When at last I sat up I found it was so dark that I could hardly see.
The wind was roaring outside, and I could feel fine snow against my
face from some crack. I was stiff and cold, and just remembered that I
had not had above a quarter of a meal all day. I thought I heard a
scratching at the door, and opened it. Something rushed in and almost
upset me; then I knew it was Kaiser, Sours's dog. I was never so glad
to see anything before. I dropped down on my knees and put my arms
around his neck and hugged him, and for all I know I may have kissed
him. I guess I again acted worse than a girl. I remember now that I
_did_ kiss the dog.

I got up at last and felt around till I found the match-safe, and lit
the wall lamp over the desk. I thought it made it so I could actually
see the cold. Kaiser seemed warm in his thick coat of black hair, and
wagged his tail like a good fellow. I don't know why it was, but I
thought I had never wanted to talk so badly before. "We're glad
they're gone, aren't we, Kaiser?" I said to him; then I thought that
sounded foolish, so I didn't say anything more, but set to work to
build the fire.

When I went to the shed at the back door for the kindling-wood I found
another friend, this time our cat, a big black-and-white one. I d