see, too. Have you far to go?'

'Yes, we have to go as far as Thornleigh,' Milly answered.

'Quite impossible in such weather. Will you come into the Priory and
wait till the storm is over?'

'The Priory! To be sure!' cried Milly. 'I never thought of that. I
know the housekeeper very well, and I am sure she would let us stop
there.'

We walked towards the Priory gates, the stranger accompanying us. I
had no opportunity of looking at him under that pelting rain, but I
was wondering all the time who he was, and how he came to speak of
Cumber Priory in that familiar tone.

One of the gates stood open, and we went in.

'A desolate-looking place, isn't it?' said the stranger. 'Dismal
enough, without the embellishment of such weather as this.'

He led the way to the hall-door, and opened it unceremoniously,
standing aside for us to pass in before him. There was a fire
burning in the wide old-fashioned fireplace, and the place had an
air of occupation that was new to it.

'I'll send for Mrs. Mills, and she shall take your wet shawls away
to be dried,' said the stranger, ringing a bell; and I think we both
began to understand by this time that he must be the master of the
house.