Alice reached home again on Christmas Eve.

It was snowing; she came in chilled and looking miserable.

Mrs.Mutimer met her in the hall, passed her, and looked out at the open door, then turned with a few white flecks on her gown.
'Where's Dick?
'He couldn't come,' replied the girl briefly, and ran up to her room.
'Arry was spending the evening with friends.

Since tea-time the old woman had never ceased moving from room to room, up and down stairs.

She had got out an old pair of Richard's slippers, and had put them before the dining-room fire to warm.