tly picked up a stone, and there followed a noise like
thunder. I should not have been surprised to see the wee house tilt
over and lie down on its side under the force of the blows. Now a
gruff voice called out, 'What do you want?'

"'Lodging.'

"'We have no room for any one: go away.'

"'Tell him I must stay,' And with the help of my prompting the old
fellow put my case in the most persuasive light possible, but,
although we talked and knocked with perseverance, the owner of the
voice neither appeared, nor would he vouchsafe us another answer.
One might have thought the house had been suddenly enchanted.

"'It is of no use--of no use whatever: they will not open,' finally
said my exhausted companion.

"'Is there no other inn here?'

"'No: you will have to return.'

"'Then you must take me to Creil.'

"'That I can't do. I have been away too long already: there is a
freight-train expected, and I must see that the track is clear. We
must go back;' and he turned resolutely and led the way.

"Just as we left the village a gay party of peasant-girls passed us
coming from a ball, laughing and chatting merrily with their beaus.
I had an insane idea of accosting them, appealing to their pity, and
asking them to keep me for the night, but fear lest they should
refuse restrained me: I was too dejected to risk a second repulse.
I have been able to realize the poetical things they tell us of the
sensations of outcasts, of adventurers; and homeless wanderers ever
since. The sight of this merry party made me feel more terribly
alone; and the beaus--well, I confess I did wonder what Fred was
doing at that moment. Then I thought of the horror of my aunt could
she know where I was, and what she would think of the 'footsteps'
her own niece was making just then, could she see her.

"When we arrived at the station my guide preceded me to the
waiting-room, and I, completely worn out, meekly followed him.

"'This is much better than sleeping in the fields,' he remarked
cheerily as we entered: 'shall I make you a fire?'

"'No, thank you, but let me go into the other room.' My reason for
this was that its sofas and chairs had some pretensions to comfort,
being 'first class.' He went to open the connecting door. It was
locked.

"'This is the only room that is open: I am sorry