ntly followed up the path and into the door of the
darkened cabin, where Bob lighted a candle, displaying a large square
room, the uncarpeted floor scoured to immaculate whiteness, as were
also the home-made wooden chairs, a chest of drawers, and uncovered
table.

There were two windows on the south side and one on the north side,
all gracefully draped with snowy muslin. A clock ticked cheerfully on
a rude mantel behind a large box stove. To the left of the door, a
rough stairway led to the attic, and the rear of the room was
curtained off into two compartments, the spotlessly clean curtains of
a pale blue and white checked print, giving a refreshing touch of
colour to the room which, simply as it was furnished, possessed an
atmosphere of restfulness and homely comfort that impressed the
visitor at once as cosy and wholesome.

"My folks be all abed," explained Bob, as he placed the candle on the
table, "but we'll put a fire on an' boil th' kettle. A drop o' hot
tea'll warm you up after your cold souse."

"I would appreciate it," said Shad, his teeth chattering.

"Be that you, Bob?" asked a voice from behind the curtain.

"Aye, Father," answered Bob, "an' I has a gentleman with me, come t'
visit us."

"Now that be fine. I'll be gettin' right up," said the voice.

"Put a fire on, lad, an' set th' kettle over," suggested a woman's
voice, "an' I'll be gettin' a bite t' eat."

"Please don't leave your bed," pleaded Shad. "It will make me feel
that I am causing a lot of trouble. Bob and I will do very nicely."

"'Tis no trouble, sir--'tis no trouble at all," the man's voice
assured.

"Oh, no, sir; 'tis no trouble," echoed the woman's voice. "'Tis too
rare a pleasure t' have a visitor."

Both spoke in accents of such honest welcome and hospitality that Shad
made no further objection.

The fire was quickly lighted, and Shad, as the stove began to send out
its genial warmth, had but just removed his borrowed adicky when the
curtain parted and Mr. and Mrs. Gray appeared.

"Mr. Trowbridge, this be Father and Mother," said Bob; adding as a
second thought, "Mr. Trowbridge lives in Boston."

"'Tis fine t' see a stranger, sir," welcomed Richard Gray, as he shook
Shad's hand warmly, "an' from Boston, too! I have hearn th' fishermen
o' th' coast tell o' Boston more'n once, but I never were thinkin'
we'd have some one from Boston come t' our house! An' you comes all
th' way from Boston, now?"

"Yes," admitted Shad, "b