The woman got a large book from some secret receptacle upstairs, and read with deep attention, though with cautious glance around her from time to time, as if half afraid of what she was doing.

It was long before the silence outside was broken by any sound of approaching footfalls; and when the ring of a horse hoof upon the frosty ground became distinctly audible through the silence of the night, the farmer would not unbar the door until his wife had glided away with the volume she had been reading.
A minute later and the parents both stood in the doorway, peering out into the cloudy night, that was not altogether dark.
"By holy St.Anthony, there are two horses and three riders," said the farmer, shading his eyes from the glare of the lantern as he peered out into the darkness beyond.
"Jack, is that you, my son?
And who are these that you have brought with you ?" "Friends--friends claiming the shelter and protection of your roof, father," answered Jack's hearty voice as he rode up to the door; and then it was seen that he was greatly encumbered by some burden he supported before him on his horse.

But from the other lighter palfrey there leaped down a small and graceful creature of fairy-like proportions, and Mistress Devenish found herself suddenly confronted by the sweetest, fairest face she had ever seen in her life, whilst a pair of soft arms stole caressingly about her neck.
"You are Jack's mother," said a sweet, soft voice in accents of confident yet timid appeal that went at once to her heart.

"He has told me so much of you--he has said that you would be a mother to me.

And I have so longed for a mother all my life.