w, "I wonder!" And so he turned, and went away slowly
across the fields.

Miss Priscilla had been right,--Anthea _was_ coming back the longest way
round,--also she was anxious to keep away from Dapplemere as long as
possible. Therefore, despite Small Porges' exhortations, and Bess's
champing impatience, she held the mare in, permitting her only the
slowest of paces, which was a most unusual thing for Anthea to do. For
the most part, too, she drove in silence seemingly deaf to Small Porges'
flow of talk, which was also very unlike in her. But before her eyes
were visions of her dismantled home, in her ears was the roar of voices
clamouring for her cherished possessions,--a sickening roar, broken, now
and then, by the hollow tap of the auctioneer's cruel hammer. And, each
time the clamouring voices rose, she shivered, and every blow of the
cruel hammer seemed to fall upon her quivering heart. Thus, she was
unwontedly deaf and unresponsive to Small Porges, who presently fell
into a profound gloom, in consequence; and thus, she held in the eager
mare who therefore, shied, and fidgeted, and tossed her head
indignantly.

But, slowly as they went, they came within sight of the house, at last,
with its quaint gables, and many latticed windows, and the blue smoke
curling up from its twisted chimneys,--smiling and placid as though, in
all this great world, there were no such thing to be found as--an
auctioneer's hammer.

And presently they swung into the drive, and drew up in the courtyard.
And there was Adam, waiting to take the mare's head,--Adam, as
good-natured, and stolid as though there were no abominations called,
for want of a worse name,--sales.

Very slowly, for her, Anthea climbed down from the high dog-cart, aiding
Small Porges to earth, and with his hand clasped tight in hers, and with
lips set firm, she turned and entered the hall. But, upon the threshold,
she stopped, and stood there utterly still, gazing, and gazing upon the
trim orderliness of everything. Then, seeing every well remembered thing
in its appointed place,--all became suddenly blurred, and dim, and,
snatching her hand from Small Porges' clasp, she uttered a great,
choking sob, and covered her face.

But Small Porges had seen, and stood aghast, and Miss Priscilla had
seen, and now hurried forward with a quick tap, tap of her stick. As she
came, Anthea raised her head, and looked for one who should have been
there, but was not. And, in that momen