He rose with her in his arms, carried her into the parlour, and laid her down on the rug before the fire, with a sofa-pillow under her head.

There she might have her sleep out.

When Mrs Forbes came home she found Alec reading, and Annie sleeping by the fireside.

Before his mother had recovered from her surprise, and while she was yet staring at the lovely little apparition, Alec had the first word.
"Mamma!" he said, "I found her sleeping in my snow hut there; and if I had not brought her in, she would have been dead by this time." "Poor little darling!" thought Mrs Forbes; but she was Scotch, and therefore she did not say it.

But she stooped, and drew the child back from the fire, lest she should have her face scorched, and after making the tea, proceeded to put off her bonnet and shawl.