At last Hetta got up and left the room. She knew that her sister
was sitting alone in the cold, and Hetta was affectionate. Susan
had not been in fault, and therefore Hetta went up to console her.

"Mrs. Bell," said Aaron, as soon as the door was closed, "I beg your
pardon for what I did just now."

"Oh, sir, I'm so sorry that the picture is burnt," said poor Mrs.
Bell.

"The picture does not matter a straw," said Aaron. "But I see that
I have disturbed you all,--and I am afraid I have made Miss Susan
unhappy."

"She was grieved because your picture was burnt," said Mrs. Bell,
putting some emphasis on the "your," intending to show that her
daughter had not regarded the drawing as her own. But the emphasis
bore another meaning; and so the widow perceived as soon as she had
spoken.

"Oh, I can do twenty more of the same if anybody wanted them," said
Aaron. "If I do another like it, will you let her take it, Mrs.
Bell?--just to show that you have forgiven me, and that we are
friends as we were before?"

Was he, or was he not a wolf? That was the question which Mrs. Bell
scarcely knew how to answer. Hetta had given her voice, saying he
was lupine. Mr. Beckard's opinion she had not liked to ask
directly. Mr. Beckard she thought would probably propose to Hetta;
but as yet he had not done so. And, as he was still a stranger in