that he had gone to the empty big hotel, for the widow's welcome was
not at first quite warm.

The widow listened to him as he gave his message, and then she took
the card and looked at it. Hetta, who was sitting on the side of
the fireplace facing the door, went on demurely with her work.
Susan gave one glance round--her back was to the stranger--and then
another; and then she moved her chair a little nearer to the wall,
so as to give the young man room to come to the fire, if he would.
He did not come, but his eyes glanced upon Susan Bell; and he
thought that the old man in New York was right, and that the big
hotel would be cold and dull. It was a pretty face to look on that
cold evening as she turned it up from the stocking she was mending.

"Perhaps you don't wish to take winter boarders, ma'am?" said Aaron
Dunn.

"We never have done so yet, sir," said Mrs. Bell timidly. Could she
let this young wolf in among her lamb-fold? He might be a wolf;--
who could tell?

"Mr. Bell seemed to think it would suit," said Aaron.

Had he acquiesced in her timidity and not pressed the point, it
would have been all up with him. But the widow did not like to go
against the big uncle; and so she said, "Perhaps it may, sir."

"I guess it will, finely," said Aaron. And then the widow seeing
that the matter was so far settled, put down her work and came round
into the passage. Hetta followed her, for there would be housework