Presently the sound of sleigh-bells again filled the room.

It was Hays leading the horse and sleigh to the door, beneath a sky now starlit and crisp under a northeast wind.

The fair stranger cast a significant glance at Zuleika, and whispered hurriedly, "You know he must not come with me.
You must keep him here." She ran to the door muffled and hooded, leaped into the sleigh, and gathered up the reins.
"But you cannot go alone," said Hays, with awkward courtesy.

"I was kalkilatin'"-- "You're too tired to go out again, dad," broke in Zuleika's voice quickly.

"You ain't fit; you're all gray and krinkly now, like as when you had one of your last spells.