settled down and the sting of the cold
was paralyzing as they hastened in. Silas went straight to Luther, and
Elizabeth and the new man brought a fresh supply of coal and cobs before
they went in. They met Silas coming out as they carried the last basketful
from the shed.

"I'm goin' right over t' tell Sadie," he announced. "I brought Noland over
to help, but Luther says you're goin' t' need 'im right along, an' I'll
jes' leave 'im for good. You'll like each other an' he'll want t' stay as
bad as You'll want 'im."

Silas had poured the whole arrangement out, and as it was about what was
necessary it was accepted.

The presence of a stranger necessitated more formal housekeeping, and when
the new man came back from helping Silas saddle Patsie he found the
kitchen in order and the savoury smell of fresh biscuits and ham. A small
table was placed beside Luther, and the ham and hot things had a seasoning
of brilliant, intellectual conversation, for the man from college was
adept at entertaining his fellow men and showed his best powers.

Elizabeth was too tired to stay awake long and she left him and Luther
chatting, after she had shown Mr. Noland where he was to sleep and had
filled the cold bed with hot flatirons to take the chill from the icy
sheets. However happy she may have been while feeding the stock, she had
to acknowledge that the loss of sleep the night before and the
unaccustomed use of the pitchfork had made of her bed a desirable place.
She awoke when the stranger went up the stairs, but was asleep before his
footsteps had reached the room above her. A tantalizing remembrance of his
face disturbed her for a moment, but only for a moment, and then tired
nature carried her back to the land of dreams. She had seen him somewhere,
but where, she was too sleepy to think out.

The next morning Silas came with his bobsled and they helped Luther into a
chair and carried him in it to the sled and so to his home. John and his
mother came a little after noon, and the girl watched to see how her
husband would like the new man, half afraid that because she had secured
him in John's absence that he would not like him, and she wished it might
be possible to keep him with them. She need not have worried, for Hugh
Noland had looked about the place and decided to make himself so necessary
to its proprietor that his presence would be desired, and he had gifts
which favoured him in that respect. Besides, John had been unsucces