The day had been damp and cold, and the room in which she had been sitting was chilly.

For that reason, most fortunately, she had thrown over her shoulders a wide sable cloak broad enough to enfold her many times and long enough to reach nearly to her knees: Dorothy thus arrayed was standing in front of John's chair.

She had just spoken the words "good humor," when the door leading to her father's room opened and in walked Sir George.

She and her ample skirts and broad sleeves were between John and the door.

Not one brief instant did Dorothy waste in thought.