"Then I shall be greatly obliged if you will be so kind as to stop and relieve my father's anxiety. But how _can_ you go in such weather? and so dark as it is."
"Never fear," said Mr. Van Brunt. "We'll be back in half an hour, if 'Brahm and me don't come across a snowdrift a _leetle_ too deep. Good night, Maam." And out he went.
" 'Back in half an hour,' " said Alice, musing. "Why, he said he had been to untie his horse for the night. He must be going on our account, I am sure, Ellen!"
"On _your_ account," said Ellen, smiling. "Oh, I knew that all the time, Miss Alice. I don't think he'll stop to relieve Aunt Fortune's anxiety."
Alice sprang to call him back, but Mrs. Van Brunt assured her it was too late, and that she need not be uneasy, for her son "didn't mind the storm no more than a weather-board. 'Brahm and 'Brahm could go anywhere in any sort of a time. He was agoing without speaking to you, but I told him he had better, for maybe you wanted to send some word particular. And your room's ready now, dear, and you'd better go to bed, and sleep as long as you can."
"Isn't this a pleasant room?" said Ellen, who saw everything in rose colour; "and a nice bed? But I feel as if I could sleep on the floor to-night. Isn't it a'most worth while to have such a time, Miss Alice, for the sake of the pleasure afterwards?"
"I don't know, Ellen," said Alice, smiling; "I won't say that; though it _is_ worth paying a price for, to find how much kindness there is in some people's hearts. As to sleeping on the floor, I must say I never felt less inclined to it."
"Well, I am tired enough, too," said Ellen, as they laid themselves down. "Two nights with you in a week! Oh, those weeks before I saw you, Miss Alice!"
One earnest kiss for good night; and Ellen's sign of pleasure on touching the pillow was scarcely breathed when sleep, deep and sound, fell upon her eyelids.
It was very late next morning when they awoke, having slept rather heavily than well. They crawled out of bed, feeling stiff and sore in every limb, each confessing to more evil effects from their adventure than she had been aware of the evening before. All the rubbing and bathing and drinking that Mrs. Van Brunt had administered, had been too little to undo what wet and cold and fatigue had done. But Mrs. Van Brunt had set her breakfast-table with everything her house could furnish that was nice; a bountifully-spread board it was. Mr. Humphreys was there, too; and no bad feelings of two of the party could prevent that from being a most cheerful and pleasant meal. Even Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Van Brunt, two persons not usually given to many words, came out wonderfully on this occasion; gratitude and pleasure in the one, and generous feeling on the part of the other, untied their tongues; and Ellen looked from one to the other in some amazement, to see how agreeable they could be. Kindness and hospitality always kept Mrs. Van Brunt in full flow; and Alice, whatever she felt, exerted herself and supplied what was wanting everywhere, like the transparent glazing which painters use to spread over the dead colour of their pictures; unknown, it was she gave life and harmony to the whole. And Ellen, in her enjoyment of everything and everybody, forgot or despised aches and pains, and even whispered to Alice that coffee was making her well again.
