ally tall. But it was only for a moment; then
they broke out: "Oh, Miss, to think that you should have been out in
such a storm! We have been terribly anxious. The housekeeper in town let
us know. But we had no one to send to meet you, for there is a fire in
the neighbourhood and all the men have gone off there. Thank God that we
have you again, safe!"

Mary concealed her emotion by hastening upstairs. Her room was warm, her
lamp was lighted.

"Is all this affection and care new? Or is it just that I have never
noticed it before?"

The dog whined outside until she was obliged to let him in. He was so
obtrusive in his gratitude that it was with difficulty she managed to
change her clothes.

When she was doing her hair she remembered the locket with her mother's
portrait. She took it from her pocket, and before fastening it on her
neck again, looked at the portrait--for the first time for many
years--and caressed and kissed it. Presently she lit a candle, and with
it in her hand crossed the passage to her father's room. There she set
it down, and going forward to his bed, bent over it and kissed the
pillow. On coming out, she stopped at the door of the visitors' room.
"In this room he shall sleep; then it can be opened again to-morrow; its
hateful associations will be gone." A maid to whom she gave orders to
light a fire told her that this had already been done, and taking Mary's
candle, went in to light the lamp. Mary stood looking after her. "Have
they really been like this all the time?"

The maid remained in the room, arranging it. Mary moved on towards the
stairs. There she once more stopped. The dog, who had run down, came
rushing up; he was determined not to lose her again. She stroked him
gratefully; it was like a first little instalment of that gratitude with
which her heart was full to overflowing.

"To-morrow--this evening I am too tired--to-morrow I will tell Frans Roey
everything! Every single thing that has happened! Perhaps this will help
me to understand it all myself."

With this brave resolve she walked downstairs, but stopped once more
before she reached the foot. "Strange it is--most strange--but I feel as
if I could tell the whole world!"

The dog was standing at the door of the Dutch room. He smelt Frans Roey
there.

Mary followed him and opened the door. As she entered Frans exclaimed,
as if he had had difficulty in keeping silence so long: "What a
beautiful home!" Noticing the dog's con