ether, after Randolph and Lucy had gone to bed, Andrew and
Charlotte passed the long evening. Charlotte was not willing to let
Evelyn come home to a closed and silent house, so the two awaited her
arrival.

"Why, Andy, it's snowing furiously!" said Charlotte, from the window,
whither she had gone at the stroke of twelve. Doctor Churchill put down
the book from which he had been reading aloud, and came to her side.

"So it is. Blowing, too. But it can't have been at it long or we should
have noticed."

"I've been noticing the wind now and then for the last hour. I hope it's
not grown cold. I wouldn't have anything happen to upset Evelyn's
improvement for the world."

"Nothing will. They'll be home before the half-hour. Come back and
listen to the rest of this chapter."

Charlotte came back, but as the quarter-hours went slowly by she became
restless, and vibrated so continually between fireplace and window that
Andy finally put away the book and kept her company.

"It's growing worse every minute." Charlotte's face was pressed close
against the frosty pane. "If they don't come by one it will look as if
something had happened."

"Oh, they're at the irresponsible age. When they come they'll say, 'Why,
we didn't dream it was so late!'"

"Jeff's not irresponsible when he gives a promise. He never breaks one,"
Charlotte answered, confidently.

"This storm would make the roads heavy. Even if they started on time,
they would have to travel twice as slowly as when they went. Stop
worrying, dear; it's not in character for you."

Charlotte closed her lips, but when the clock struck one her eyes spoke
for her. "Evelyn is so delicate," they said, mutely, and Andy answered
as if she had spoken.

"Evelyn is wrapped too heavily to be cold. Besides, they'll all take
care of her. She won't come to any harm, I'm sure of it. They'll be here
before half-past-one, I'm confident, and then we can antidote any chill
she may have got."

But at half-past-one there was still no sign of the sleighing party.
Moreover, the storm was steadily increasing; it had become what is known
as a "blizzard." Even in the protected suburban street the drifts were
beginning to show size, and the arc-light at the corner was almost lost
to view through the downfall.

Charlotte turned to her husband with something like imperiousness in her
manner, and met the same decision in his look. Before she could speak he
said:

"Yes, I'll go to meet them. It