CHAPTER XIII.
A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE .-- PART II.
"And as for poor old Rover, I'm sure he meant no harm." OLD DOGGIE.
"Molly is too sharp by half," said aunty, the following evening, when she was preparing to go on with her story.

"We _had_ to stay there all night--that was the result of Mary's conversation with the driver, the details of which I may spare you.

Let me see, where was I?
'The driver scratched his head,'-- no,--ah, here it is! 'He was waiting downstairs to speak to us; 'and the result of the speaking I have told you, so I'll go on from here---- "It was so cold downstairs in the fireless, deserted house, that Mary and I were glad to come upstairs again to the little room where we had been sitting, which already seemed to have a sort of home-like feeling about it.

But once arrived there we looked at each other in dismay.
"'Isn't it dreadful, Mary ?' I said.
"'And we shall miss the morning train from East Hornham--the only one by which we can get through the same day--that is the worst of all,' she said.
"'Can't we be in time?
It is only two or three miles from here to East Hornham,' I said.
"'Yes, but you forget I _must_ see Mr.Turner again.

If I fix to take this house, and it seems very likely, I must not go away without all the particulars for father.