y in
to the fire. I'll be back in a few minutes," and he led his horses
down to the barn, blanketed and tied them. When he returned, he saw
two dusky figures standing by the front door which led to the little
hall separating the kitchen from the parlor.

"Bless me!" he exclaimed. "You haven't been standing here all this
time?"

"It's merely due to a little oversight. The door is locked, you see,
and--"

"But the kitchen door is not locked."

"Well, it didn't seem quite natural for us to enter the dwelling, on
the occasion of our first arrival, by the kitchen entrance, and--"

Holcroft, with a grim look, strode through the kitchen and unlocked the
door.

"Ah!" exclaimed the widow. "I feel as if I was coming home. Enter,
Jane, my dear. I'm sure the place will soon cease to be strange to
you, for the home feeling is rapidly acquired when--"

"Just wait a minute, please," said Holcroft, "and I'll light the lamp
and a candle." This he did with the deftness of a man accustomed to
help himself, then led the way to the upper room which was to be her
sleeping apartment. Placing the candle on the bureau, he forestalled
Mrs. Mumpson by saying, "I'll freshen up the fire in the kitchen and
lay out the ham, eggs, coffee, and other materials for supper. Then I
must go out and unharness and do my night work. Make yourselves to
home. You'll soon be able to find everything," and he hastened away.

It would not be their fault if they were not soon able to find
everything. Mrs. Mumpson's first act was to take the candle and survey
the room in every nook and corner. She sighed when she found the
closet and bureau drawers empty. Then she examined the quantity and
texture of the bedding of the "couch on which she was to repose," as
she would express herself. Jane followed her around on tiptoe, doing
just what her mother did, but was silent.

At last they shivered in the fireless apartment, threw off their scanty
wraps, and went down to the kitchen. Mrs. Mumpson instinctively looked
around for a rocking chair, and as none was visible she hastened to the
parlor, and, holding the candle aloft, surveyed this apartment. Jane
followed in her wake as before, but at last ventured to suggest,
"Mother, Mr. Holcroft'll be in soon and want his supper."

"I suppose he'll want a great many things," replied Mrs. Mumpson with
dignity, "but he can't expect a lady of my connections to fly around
like a common servant. It is but natu