er
I've had for these dozen years; and it has done me good, too. I was a
little wore out with pullin' over the bay, agin the wind."

Mrs. Smiley looked at him curiously, and then at the water splashing in
under the door. He understood her perfectly.

"A wettin' wouldn't hurt you, though it would be disagreeable, an' I
should be sorry to have you put to that inconvenience. But the wind
_and_ the water may unsettle the foundation o' your house, the chimney
bein' on the outside, an' no support to it. Even that would not
certainly put you in danger, as the frame would likely float. But I
knew, ef sech a thing should happen, an' you here alone, you would be
very much frightened, an' perhaps lose your life a-tryin' to save it."

"And you came up from the landing in all this storm to take care of me?"
Mrs. Smiley exclaimed, with flushing cheeks.

"I came all the way from Astoria to do it," answered Chillis, looking at
the new-blown roses of her face.

"And Eben----" She checked herself, and fixed her eyes upon the hearth.

"He thought there was no danger, most likely."

"Mr. Chillis, I can never thank you!" she cried, fervently, as she
turned to glance at the sleeping child.

"White Rose," he answered, under his breath, "I don't want any thanks
but those I've got." Then, aloud to her: "You might have some blankets
ready, in case we are turned out o' the house. The fire will be 'most
sure to be put out, any way, an' you an' the boy will be cold."

Mrs. Smiley was shivering with that tenseness of the nerves which the
bravest women suffer from, when obliged to wait the slow but certain
approach of danger. Her teeth chattered together, as she went about her
band-box of a house, collecting things that would be needed, should she
be forced to abandon the shelter of its lowly roof; and, as she was thus
engaged, she thought the place had never seemed so cosy as it did this
wild and terrible night. She put on her rubber overshoes, tied snugly on
a pretty woollen hood, got ready a pile of blankets and a warm shawl,
lighted a large glass lantern (as she saw the water approaching the
fireplace), and, last, proceeded to arouse Willie, and wrap him up in
overcoat, little fur cap, and warm mittens; when all was done, she
turned and looked anxiously at the face of her guest. It might have been
a mask, for all she could learn from it. He was silently watching her,
not looking either depressed or hopeful. She went up to him, and touche