An' he's back now, Mr.Holmes,--been back for a month." Margret, walking in the porch with her father, stopped.
"Are you tired, father?
It is late." "And you are worn out, poor child! It was selfish in me to forget.
Good-night, dear!" Margret kissed him, laughing cheerfully, as she led him to his room-door.

He lingered, holding her dress.
"Perhaps it will be easier for you to-morrow than it was to-day ?" hesitating.
"I am sure it will.

To-morrow will be sure to be better than to-day." She left him, and went away with a step that did not echo the promise of her words.
Joel, meanwhile, consulted apart with his mistress.
"Of course," she said, emphatically.--"You must stay until morning, Lois.

It is too late.

Joel will toss you up a bed in the loft." The queer little body hesitated.
"I can stay," she said, at last.