s, a lantern in one
hand, and in the other a covered pitcher from which steam was curling.

"I heard David howling and I went to our gate to look; I saw that there
wasn't a light in the farm-house and so knew that something was the
matter. No fire in the stove and the room quite chilly! Where is that
neighbour of yours in the other half of the house? Couldn't he have
brought you in a few sticks?"

"He isn't ter hum just now," replied Amos, in tones that were
unnecessarily feeble, while at the same time an idea entered his brain
that almost made him chuckle; but the sound which was quenched in his
throat only came to Maria as an uncomfortable struggle for breath that
hastened her exit to the woodpile by the side fence for the material to
revive the fire. In going round the house, her arms laden with logs, she
bumped into the figure of _The Man_ leading his bicycle across the
grass, which deadened his footfall, as the lantern she carried blinded
her to all objects not within its direct rays.

"Maria Maxwell! Is Opie ill again? You must not carry such a heavy
load!" he exclaimed all in one breath, as he very quickly transferred
the logs to his own arms, and was making the fire in the open stove
almost before she had regained the porch, so that when she had lighted a
lamp and drawn the turkey-red curtains, the reflections of the flames
began to dance on the wall and cheerfulness suddenly replaced gloom.

Still Amos sat in an attitude of dejection. Thanking _The Man_ for his
aid, but taking no further notice of him, Maria began to heat the broth
which was contained in the pitcher, asking Amos at the same time if he
did not think that he would feel better in bed.

"I dunno's place has much to do with it," he grumbled; "this can't go on
no longer, it's doing for me, that it is!"

Maria, thinking that he referred to bodily illness, hastened the
preparations for bed, and _The Man_, feeling helpless as all men do when
something active is being done in which they have no part, rose to go,
and, with his hand on the latch of the porch door, said in a low voice:
"If I might help you in any way, I should be very glad; I do not quite
like leaving you alone with this old fellow,--you may need help in
getting him to bed. Tell me frankly, would you like me to stay?"

"Frankly I would rather you would not," said Maria, yet in so cordial a
tone that no offence could be gathered from it in any way.

So the door opened and closed agai