"Papa had something to say to me, that was all," and she glanced up at him with such a loving look, as at that instant he entered the room, that no one could suspect the talk between them had been other than most pleasant.
"Well, you have come back just in time; we are going to play the game of Authors," said Herbert, beginning to distribute the cards.
The words had hardly left his lips when a sharp tap at the window made them all jump.

Then a woman's voice spoke in piteous accents.
"Oh let me in, good people! my baby and I are starving to death, and freezing in this bitter winter wind." "Oh who is it?
who is it ?" cried several of the girls, sending frightened glances in the direction from which the voice had come.
"I'll soon see," said Harold, hurrying toward the window.
But a gruff voice spoke from the hall.

"Don't mind her, sir; she's a gypsy liar and thief; she stole the baby from its mother." Harold paused, stood uncertainly in the middle of the floor for an instant, then turning quickly, retraced his steps, went to the hall door and glanced this way and that.
"There is no one here," he said, then burst into a laugh as, turning round once more, he perceived Mr.Lilburn quietly seated near the open door into the adjoining parlor where the older people were.

"Cousin Ronald, may I ask what you know of that gypsy and the stolen child ?" "What do I ken about her, laddie ?" queried the old gentleman in his turn.

"Wad ye insinuate that I associate wi' sic trash as that ?" "Oh she's quite a harmless creature, I've no doubt," laughed Harold.
"O Uncle Harold, please let her in," pleaded Grace, with tears in her sweet blue eyes.
"Why, my dear little Gracie, there's nobody there," he answered.
"But how can we be sure if we don't look, Uncle Harold?
Her voice did sound so very real." "What is the matter, Gracie dear ?" asked a sweet voice, as a beautiful lady came swiftly from the adjoining parlor and laid her soft white hand on the little girl's head.
"O Grandma Elsie, we heard a woman begging to come in out of the cold, and--oh there don't you hear her ?" "Oh let me in, dear good ladies and gentlemen! I'm freezing, freezing and starving to death!" wailed the voice again.
By this time all the occupants of the other parlor were crowding into this.
"Captain," said Grandma Elsie, "will you please step to the window and open it ?" "Mother, Cousin Ronald is responsible for it all," laughed Harold.
"We may as well let Gracie see for herself," Mrs.Travilla replied in a kindly indulgent tone.
Harold at once stepped to the window, drew back the curtains, raised the sash and threw open the shutters, giving a full view of all the grounds on that side of the house;--for the clouds had cleared away and the moon was shining down on snowladen trees and shrubs and paths and parterres carpeted with the same; but no living creature was to be seen.
Grace holding fast to her father's hand, ventured close to the window and sent searching glances from side to side, then with a sigh of relief, said, "Yes, I do believe it was only Cousin Ronald; and I'm ever so glad the woman and her baby are not freezing." At that everybody laughed, and timid, sensitive little Grace hid her blushing face on her father's shoulder, as he sat down and drew her to his side.
"Never mind, darling," he said soothingly, passing an arm affectionately about her and softly smoothing her curls with his other hand, "it is good natured amusement; we all know what you meant and love you all the better for your tenderness of heart toward the poor and suffering." "Yes, dear child, your papa is quite right, and I fear we were not very polite or kind to laugh at your innocent speech," said Grandma Elsie.
At that instant the tap on the window was repeated, then the voice spoke again, but in cheerful tones.