y consequence; but you are a
little warm at present."

"Nobody can charge that upon you, Miss Miskin, I must say," observed
Margaret, laughing.

"No, ma'am, that they cannot, nor ever will. I am not apt to be warm,
and I hope I can excuse... Good morning, ladies."

Mrs Howell treated her customers with a swimming curtsey as they went
out, glancing at her shop-woman the while. Lady Hunter favoured them
with a full stare.

"What excessive impertinence!" exclaimed Hester. "To tell me that I was
warm, and she hoped she could excuse! My husband will hardly believe
it."

"Oh, yes, he will. He knows them for two ignorant, silly women; worth
observing, perhaps, but not worth minding. Have you any other shop to
go to?"

Yes, the tinman's, for a saucepan or two of a size not yet supplied, for
which Morris had petitioned.

The tinman was either unable or not very anxious to understand Hester's
requisitions. He brought out everything but what was wanted; and was so
extremely interested in observing something that was going on over the
way, that he was every moment casting glances abroad between the
dutch-ovens and fenders that half-darkened his window. The ladies at
last looked over the way too, and saw a gig containing a black footman
standing before the opposite house.

"A stranger in Deerbrook!" observed Margaret, as they issued from the
shop. "I do not wonder that Mr Hill had so little attention to spare
for us."

The sisters had been so accustomed, during all the years of their
Birmingham life, to see faces that they did not know, that they could
not yet sympathise with the emotions caused in Deerbrook by the
appearance of a stranger. They walked on, forgetting in conversation
all about the gig and black servant. Hester had not been pleased by the
insufficient attention she had met with in both the shops she had
visited, and she did not enjoy her walk as was her wont. As they trod
the crisp and glittering snow, Margaret hoped the little Rowlands and
Greys were happy in making the snow-man which had been the vision of
their imaginations since the winter set in: but Hester cast longing eyes
on the dark woods which sprang from the sheeted meadows, and thought
nothing could be so delightful as to wander among them, and gather
icicles from the boughs, even though the paths should be ankle-deep in
snow.

Just when they were proposing to turn back, a horseman appeared on the
ridge of the rising ground, ove