But the wind had raised its level higher, and she went on with her work.

At last the sound was repeated.

Then she rose, lit the candle and the fire, and went to see.

Only to satisfy herself, she said, that nothing could be out on such a night.
She opened the door a little way, and held the light behind her to defend it from the wind.

The figure of a tall man stood there, and before she could speak he had pushed his way in, and was forcing the door to close behind him.
"Waldo!" she cried in astonishment.
He had been gone more than a year and a half.
"You did not expect to see me," he answered, as he turned toward her; "I should have slept in the outhouse, and not troubled you tonight; but through the shutter I saw glimmerings of a light." "Come in to the fire," she said; "it is a terrific night for any creature to be out.