The disappointment which Blue and Red experienced in finding that the
handsome youth was a dentist by profession was made up for by the
ecstasy of amusement it caused them to think of his desiring to set up
his business in their house. They would almost have forgiven Fate if she
had withdrawn her latest novelty as suddenly as she had sent him,
because his departure would have enabled them to give vent to the mirth
the suppression of which was, at that moment a pain almost as great as
their girlish natures could bear.

Oh, no, Mrs. Rexford said, they had no rooms to let in the house.

The stranger muttered something under his breath, which to an acute ear
might have sounded like "Oh, Jemima!" but he looked so very disconsolate
they could not help being sorry for him as he immediately replied,
soberly enough, "I _am_ sorry. I can't think of any place else to go,
ma'am. I'm _real_ tired, for I've been walking this long time in the
loose snow. Will you permit me to sit and rest for a time on the
doorstep right outside here till I can think what I better do next?"

Blue fingered the back of a chair nervously.

"Take a chair by the stove and rest yourself," said Mrs. Rexford. She
had a dignity about her in dealing with a visitor that was not often
apparent in other circumstances. She added, "We have too lately been
strangers ourselves to wish to turn any one weary from our door." Then,
in whispered aside, "Dry your dishes, girls."

The dignity of bearing with which she spoke to him altered as she threw
her head backward to give this last command.