to a sitting position; "but that isn't my occupation at present. I must go
home. It is almost dark."

"There is no hurry. I'm going with you. I want you to see how the little
room lights up. I've never seen it by firelight, and I'll have my
house-warming to-night!"

"Oh no, indeed! I must go back. There's the five o'clock whistle, now!"

"Well, we've an hour yet. You must get warm before you go."

He went out, and quickly returned with an armful of wood and shavings,
which he crammed into the cold fireplace.

"What a litter you have made! Do you think your mature angel from the
valley will stand that sort of thing?"

As she spoke, the rain descended in violence, sweeping across the piazza,
and obliterating the fast-fading landscape. They could scarcely see each
other in the darkness, and the trampling on the roof overhead made speech
a useless effort. Almost as suddenly as it had opened upon them the tumult
ceased, and in the silence that followed they listened to the heavy
raindrops spattering from the eaves.

Arnold crossed to the window, where Miss Frances stood shivering and
silent, with her hands clasped before her.

"I want you to light my fire," he said, with a certain concentration in his
voice.