its beauty. She drew nearer to the window and
looked out at her.

"She must be very cold," said Mrs. Galloway. "She looks as if she had
made a long journey. I will send Hollis to her."

A few minutes later there tripped down the garden-walk a trimly attired
young housemaid.

The mistress had seen her from the window and thought she looked cold
and tired. Would she come into the house to rest?

Joan answered with a tinge of color on her cheek. She felt a little like
a beggar.

"Thank yo'; I'll come," she said. "If th' mistress is Mrs. Galloway, I
ha' a letter fur her fro' Lancashire."

Mrs. Galloway met them on the threshold.

"The young woman, ma'am," said the servant, "has a letter from
Lancashire."

"From Lancashire!" said Mrs. Galloway.

"Fro' Riggan, mistress," said Joan. "Fro' Miss Anice. I'm Joan Lowrie."

That Joan Lowrie was a name familiar to her was evident by the change in
Mrs. Galloway's face. A faint flush of pleasure warmed it, and she spoke
quickly.

"Joan Lowrie!" she said. "My dear child's friend! Then I know you very
well. Come into the room, my dear."

She led her into the room and closed the door.

"You are very cold and your shawl is wet," laying a kind hand upon it.
"Give it to me, and take a seat by the fire. You must warm yourself
thoroughly and have a cup of tea," she said, "and then I will begin to
ask questions."

There was a wide, low-seated, low-armed, soft-cushioned chair at one
side of the fire, and in this chair she had made Joan seat herself. The
sudden change from the chill dampness of the winter day to the exquisite
relief and rest, almost overcame the girl. She was deadly pale when Mrs.
Galloway ceased, and her lips trembled; she tried to speak, and for a
moment could not; tears rushed to her eyes and stood in them. But she
managed to answer at last.

"I beg yo're pardon," she said. "Yo' ha' no need to moind me. Th' warmth
has made me a bit faint, that's aw. I've noan been used to it lately."

Mrs. Galloway came and stood near her.

"I am sorry to hear that, my dear," she said.

"Yo're very kind, ma'am," Joan answered.

She drew the letter from her dress and handed it to her.

"I getten that fro' Miss Anice the neet I left Riggan," she said.

When the tea was brought in and Joan had sat down, the old lady read the
letter.

"_Keep her with you if you can. Give her the help she needs most. She
has had a hard life, and wants to forget it?_

"Now, I wonder,