with a dreamy retrospective air as though he were talking to
himself,--"The last load had been taken in. Supper was over. The
men had gone home,--Priscilla was clearing the great hall, when
there came on a sudden storm--just a flash of lightning--I can see
it now, striking a blue fork across the windows--a clap of
thunder--and then a regular downpour of rain. Heavy rain, too,--
buckets-full--for it washed the yard out and almost swamped the
garden. I didn't think much about it,--the hay was hauled in dry,
and that was all my concern. I stood under a shed in the yard and
watched the rain falling in straight sheets out of a sky black as
pitch--I could scarcely see my own hand if I stretched it out
before me, the night was so dark. All at once I heard the quick
gallop of a horse's hoofs some way off,--then the sound seemed to
die away,--but presently I heard the hoofs coming at a slow steady
pace down our muddy old by-road--no one can gallop THAT, in any
weather. And almost before I knew how it came there, the horse was
standing at the farmyard gate, with a man in the saddle carrying a
bundle in front of him. He was the handsomest fellow I ever saw,
and when he dismounted and came towards me, and took off his cap
in the pouring rain and smiled at me, I was fairly taken with his
looks. I thought he must be something of a king or other great
personage by his very manner. 'Will you do me a kindness?' he
said, as gently as you please. 'This is a farm, I believe. I want
to leave my little child here in safe keeping for a night. She is
such a baby,--I cannot carry her any further through this storm.'
And he put aside the wrappings of the bundle he carried and showed
me a small pale infant asleep. 'She's motherless,' he added, 'and
I'm taking her to my relatives. But I have to ride some distance
from here on very urgent business, and if you will look after her
for to-night I'll call for her to-morrow. Poor little innocent!