The thought spurred him on. It seemed to him that he had been days on
the road when he reached the house at last, and stood shivering on the
steps while he waited for some one to answer his timid ring.

"No, you can't speak to Mrs. Estel," said the pompous colored man who
opened the door, and who evidently thought that he had come on some
beggar's mission. "She never sees any one now, and I'm sure she
wouldn't see you."

"Oh, _please_!" cried Steven desperately, as the door was about to be
shut in his face. "She told me to come, and I've walked miles through
the storm, and I'm so cold and tired! Oh, I _can't_ go back without
seeing her."

His high, piercing voice almost wailed out the words. Had he come so
far only to be disappointed at last?

"What is it, Alec?" he heard some one call gently.

He recognized the voice, and in his desperation darted past the man
into the wide reception hall.

He saw the sweet face of the lady, who came quickly forward, and heard
her say, "Why, what is the matter, my child?"

Then, overcome by the sudden change from the cold storm to the
tropical warmth of the room, he dropped on the floor, exhausted and
unconscious.