Presently we lost the light, presently saw it, presently lost it, presently saw it, and turned into an avenue of trees and cantered up towards where it was beaming brightly.

It was in a window of what seemed to be an old-fashioned house with three peaks in the roof in front and a circular sweep leading to the porch.

A bell was rung as we drew up, and amidst the sound of its deep voice in the still air, and the distant barking of some dogs, and a gush of light from the opened door, and the smoking and steaming of the heated horses, and the quickened beating of our own hearts, we alighted in no inconsiderable confusion.
"Ada, my love, Esther, my dear, you are welcome.

I rejoice to see you! Rick, if I had a hand to spare at present, I would give it you!" The gentleman who said these words in a clear, bright, hospitable voice had one of his arms round Ada's waist and the other round mine, and kissed us both in a fatherly way, and bore us across the hall into a ruddy little room, all in a glow with a blazing fire.

Here he kissed us again, and opening his arms, made us sit down side by side on a sofa ready drawn out near the hearth.