ed horses, when guests filled the silent rooms, when
servants were many and the larder abundant, and life and laughter ruled
where now were only memories. It always sounded like make-believe; and,
humble poor-house child though she was, Alfy delighted in make-believe.

A hint was commonly sufficient to set the house-mistress reminiscent,
and once started upon such retrospections she was as contented to
continue as her little maid to listen; and now there followed for the
pair an hour of real enjoyment.

Once really past the threshold Montgomery's reluctance vanished. If he
had anything disagreeable to do he liked to get it over with at once.
The walk to The Maples in that storm was certainly disagreeable, as
would, doubtless, be his reception there. He wouldn't think about that
part of the affair till it faced him, and he wouldn't let any grass grow
under his feet for loitering upon his road. Then a thought of
Katharine, alone and in terror, roused all his real manliness, so that
he cared no further for anything save to set her free. He would now
promptly have knocked any other boy down for calling him the hard names
he called himself all the way from the Mansion to Aunt Eunice's, and he
disdained to think of tramps, thunder-claps, or broken tree-limbs, even
though he stumbled over some of these along the path. Despite the
obstructing wind, he had never run so swiftly, and the resounding whack
he gave the Maitland knocker startled all within the house.

Poor Aunt Eunice required but little now to set her nerves a-quiver, and
was anxiously pacing the sitting-room floor, wondering how and where to
begin that search for little Katharine, which must be deferred no
longer. But after the first shock of the summons she ran to answer it,
feeling sure that here was news at last; and there almost fell into the
hall a drenched, breathless lad, who could only stammer, feebly:

"H-h-hay--mow!"

Then he dropped upon the floor to catch his breath.

Miss Maitland stared at him, wondering if here was another storm-crazed
victim. Then she remembered that "H-h-h-hay--mow!" was the one and only
word the boy had uttered during that scene of the brass bound box. Now
again just "H-h-hay-mow!" She passed her hand wearily across her eyes
trying to understand.

Then said the last of the Sturtevants, recovering, and stammering but
slightly in his earnestness:

"F-fetch a lantern, quick! We went up h-h-hay-mow huntin' eggs--an' mine
are i