uch things, in the last two years.

"Vhen you stays in dis coontry for a vhiles den you can eat like a
goot feller and not like a little bird," Stefan assured her,
comfortingly. "Den you get nice and fat, and red on de cheeks, and
strong."

Mrs. Olsen was still smiling at her, as she sat with plump hands
folded on an ample stomach. The two children had become used to her
and came near. A seat was given to her near the stove. Lack of sleep
during the two hard nights spent on the train caused her head to nod,
once or twice.

"Mebbe you vants to rest a bit before ve goes," suggested Stefan.
"Dere's plenty time if you like."

But this roused her to alert attention. She must go, at once, for all
this suspense and uncertainty must be ended. For some happy moments
she had thought no more of the man who was expecting her. The comfort
she had enjoyed had temporarily banished him from her thoughts.

"No--oh, no!" she cried. "I--I'll be glad to leave as soon as you are
ready to take me!"

At this moment she became keenly puzzled. She still had a very few
dollars in her purse and wondered whether she ought to offer payment
for her meal. Instinct wisely prompted her to keep the little
pocketbook in her bag. They would undoubtedly have been surprised and
perhaps offended.

Stefan drew on his great Dutch stockings and pulled his fur cap over
his ears. An instant after he had left the room Madge heard loud
barking. As she looked out of the window, scratching off a little of
the frost that covered the panes, she saw the big Swede surrounded by
five large dogs which he was hitching to a toboggan. Then he got on
the thing and the animals galloped away. A few minutes later he
returned, with her small trunk lashed to the back part of the sled. He
entered the house and took a straw-filled pillow and a huge bearskin
and bore them out.

In the meanwhile Mrs. Olsen was helping Madge to resume her outlandish
garb.

"Mebbe Mr. Ennis he not know you vhen you come so all wrapped up.
Mebbe he tink it is a bear. Yes, put dis on too, you vants it all,"
she declared. "It's all of twelve mile out dere. If you not need de
tings no longer, by and by you send 'em back. It's all right. I no
need 'em. Yoost keep 'em so long vhat you like. Didn't Hugo Ennis tell
you bring varm clothes vid you?"

"No," said Madge. "I--I don't think he spoke of them."

"Mens is awful foolish some times," asserted the good woman. "Dey pay
no attention to tings ev